Ni asi la distingue. 1796 - 1797

This is Francisco Goya's etching, "Ni asi la distingue," from an unknown date. The composition, predominantly monochromatic, uses stark contrasts of light and shadow to draw viewers into its disquieting narrative. Goya employs a complex interplay of lines. Notice the frantic, almost chaotic scribbles that define the shadows, contrasting with the smoother, more deliberate lines delineating the figures. This tension charges the scene with an unsettling emotional intensity. The central group, a woman flanked by a whispering man and child, is rendered with meticulous detail. While a second woman sits in the background. The etching needle scratches into the plate like a sardonic commentary on societal hypocrisy and the illusion of appearances. Goya masterfully uses the medium to destabilize conventional notions of beauty and morality, forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature. This formal approach allows Goya to engage with the philosophical underpinnings of Enlightenment-era society.