Devota profesion. 1796 - 1797

"Devota Profesion" is an etching by Francisco Goya, created between 1796-1797, that is part of his famous series "Los Caprichos". The etching depicts a scene of hellish torment. A demon, with the head of a beast, reads a book as two other demons, with their faces contorted in expressions of pain, hold his head open. Three severed heads float below them, suggesting their fate. The scene is dark and chaotic, typical of Goya's artistic style which often expressed his criticisms of societal corruption and religious hypocrisy. The artist's use of grotesque imagery and exaggerated expressions highlights the absurdity and horror of the scene, making a statement about the consequences of religious fanaticism and blind devotion. This print is a powerful critique of the Spanish Inquisition, a period of religious persecution that Goya witnessed first-hand.