Copy of Le Joeuer de Violon (The Violin Player), from "Les Caprices" 1620 - 1700

This is an anonymous copy of "The Violin Player", an etching from "Los Caprichos". "Los Caprichos" is a set of 80 prints published in 1799 by the Spanish artist Francisco Goya. Though this copy is not by Goya himself, it echoes the social commentary central to his work. Here, the figure is proudly dressed, wearing a feathered hat and cape, yet this man’s identity remains elusive. He is a shadow of someone, or something else. These prints challenged societal norms and critiqued the aristocracy and clergy. Goya's "Caprichos" questioned the prevailing social order of 18th-century Spain, addressing themes of superstition, ignorance, and corruption. Who is the artist copying here and why? What is lost, or gained, in translation? This small print invites us to reflect on the power of art as a medium for protest and a catalyst for change, even through imitation.