Tragala perro. 1796 - 1797

"Trágala perro", or "Swallow it, dog" is an etching by Francisco Goya. Created without a specific date as part of his series "Los Caprichos," it reveals the social and political tensions brewing in late 18th-century Spain. At the heart of this image is the rejection of progressive, enlightened ideas in favor of tradition. Goya portrays a scene rife with grotesque figures mocking a kneeling man who is being forced to "swallow" something. The title is a direct reference to the forced oath of allegiance to the Constitution of 1812, a liberal document resisted by absolutist factions. Goya, a court painter, experienced firsthand the hypocrisy and corruption of the Spanish elite. His visual language is often biting, using satire to critique the powerful. Here, the artist captures a palpable sense of fear and the brutal suppression of dissenting voices. This etching becomes a stage for the clash between enlightenment ideals and entrenched power, where personal integrity is sacrificed at the altar of political expediency.