Al Conde Palatino. 1796 - 1797

Francisco Goya created this etching, titled "Al Conde Palatino," as part of his series "Los Caprichos" in Spain. These prints offer a critical, satirical view of late 18th-century Spanish society. This image, like others in the series, uses caricature to mock the aristocracy. Here, a nobleman appears to be vomiting into the hands of a barber or servant while two other figures look on in distress. The scene is set against a backdrop that suggests a barber shop or grooming room, filled with bottles and jars. Goya's "Los Caprichos" was a radical project that challenged the social norms of his time and critiqued the institutions of art by publishing independently. To fully understand Goya's intent, one might research the social customs of the Spanish aristocracy during his lifetime and study the history of satire in visual art. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.