Mala noche. 1796 - 1797

Mala noche, or Bad Night, is one of eighty aquatint etchings by Francisco Goya, made in a period of immense social and political upheaval in Spain. This work, like others from Los Caprichos, is a visual condemnation of the social issues of the time. Goya was working during the Spanish Enlightenment and the subsequent French occupation, bearing witness to drastic changes in social structures and power dynamics. Through his art, Goya often critiqued the aristocracy and clergy, while giving voice to the marginalized. In Mala Noche, we see a woman, possibly a prostitute, being carried or perhaps attacked. Goya often depicted women as victims of social injustice, highlighting the precariousness of their position in a male-dominated society. His use of aquatint allows for stark contrasts and shadowy figures, adding to the emotional intensity of the scene. The title itself, ‘Bad Night,’ suggests a disruption of social order. Through the work we are reminded of the individual stories overshadowed by larger historical narratives.