Old man on a swing 1825 - 1827

This print, ‘Old man on a swing,’ was made by Francisco de Goya using etching and aquatint. These processes involve biting into a metal plate with acid, then using it to transfer an image to paper. It is one of a series of prints called ‘The Proverbs’ or ‘Los Disparates’ which translates to follies or absurdities. The tonal qualities of this etching, from dark to light, influence its appearance, imbuing the artwork with a sense of depth. Goya has masterfully rendered the figure of an old man gleefully swinging, using thin lines to describe his clothes and the swing's ropes, and broader strokes to create a sense of shadows. Printmaking is a medium inherently tied to reproduction and distribution, and to a wider social context, offering a means to disseminate images and ideas to a broad audience. Here we see the artist has engaged with traditions of printmaking and fine art to highlight the absurdities of human behavior. It reminds us that the true essence of art lies not only in its aesthetic qualities but also in its capacity to engage with culture and society.