Ya van desplumados (There They Go Plucked)

The influential print, Ya van desplumados (There They Go Plucked), created by Spanish master Francisco Goya in 1799, exemplifies the artist's groundbreaking approach to satire and printmaking. This particular impression is an early proof before letters, executed in a complex combination of etching, burnished aquatint, and drypoint on laid paper. The utilization of these layered techniques allowed Goya to achieve nuanced tonal gradations and dramatic contrasts, providing a powerful visual platform for his criticism of contemporary society.

Dating from the pivotal period of 1776 to 1800, this piece belongs to the highly significant Los Caprichos series, a collection that profoundly challenged the rigid social and religious norms of late 18th-century Spanish culture. Goya used the print medium as a powerful vehicle for biting social commentary, attacking corrupt nobility, the clergy, and rampant superstition. The provocative title of Ya van desplumados implies a scene of exploitation or swindling, fitting within the overall thematic framework of human folly central to the Caprichos.

The application of burnished aquatint in the work is particularly effective, creating deep, velvety blacks and soft shadows that amplify the psychological intensity of the composition. Through his technical mastery of etching and drypoint processes, Goya transformed the nature of the satiric print, pushing it toward Romantic emotionalism while maintaining clarity of criticism. As one of the most celebrated examples of Spanish prints from this era, the work resides in the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art. Many of the seminal prints created by Goya are now part of the public domain, allowing global access to the enduring artistic legacy of this pivotal period (1776 to 1800).