There Was No Business ("No encontraron avio") 1807 - 1845

"There Was No Business ("No encontraron avio")" is a 19th-century etching by Spanish artist Leonardo Alenza, created between 1807 and 1845. The artwork depicts two seated women, one draped in shadow, the other in sharper focus. The work is characterized by its use of dark tones, a technique commonly used in Spanish etching, highlighting the somber mood of the scene. The inscription, "No encontraron avio," meaning "They found no help," adds a layer of melancholy and reinforces the sense of desperation and hardship. This poignant etching, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, offers a glimpse into the harsh realities of 19th-century Spanish life.