Be Quick, They are Waking Up, Plate 78

Goya employed rapid, incised lines and deep chiaroscuro to convey tension and motion. The rough texture of the etching enhances the sense of urgency, while the stark contrast between shadow and faint illumination isolates the figures and their actions. The loose, sketch-like quality suggests spontaneity, as if the scene was captured mid-movement.

The print was originally published in 1799 as part of Goya’s privately circulated series Los Caprichos, which he later withdrew from public sale due to political pressure. It entered The Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection in the 20th century, having passed through several private holdings after its initial release.

This plate belongs to a series that satirizes Spanish society’s superstitions, ignorance, and moral decay during the late Enlightenment. Goya’s nighttime scenes often depict hidden behaviors—witchcraft, deception, or secrecy—reflecting anxieties about authority, religion, and the unseen forces shaping daily life.

Goya’s use of dark, expressive imagery in this print influenced later generations of artists exploring psychological depth and social critique. The work’s raw technique and thematic ambiguity helped redefine printmaking as a vehicle for personal and political commentary beyond mere illustration.