Artwork

It is Time, Plate 80

It is Time, Plate 80, by Francisco Goya, 1799
It is Time, Plate 80, by Francisco Goya, 1799

It is Time, Plate 80 is a print by the Romanticist artist Francisco Goya. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1799, *It is Time, Plate 80* is a print by the Spanish artist Francisco de Goya. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Its composition captures a moment of frantic activity, with figures rendered in swift, gestural lines that convey tension and immediacy.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts a group of individuals in disarray: a man wearing a broad-brimmed hat raises his arms, while others scramble beneath him, one clutching a stick and another appearing to fall or reach out. The inscription *Ya es hora* ("It is time") at the bottom suggests an urgent call to action or a decisive instant.

Technique & Style

Goya employs a loose, sketch‑like approach, using rapid, rough strokes that give the figures a floating, unsettled quality. The print’s energetic line work reflects the artist’s interest in capturing fleeting emotional states, emphasizing movement over precise detail.

History & Provenance

The print was produced during the late eighteenth century, a period when Goya was experimenting with graphic media to explore social and psychological themes. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s European prints collection.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Francisco Goya

Artist

Francisco Goya

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; Spanish: ; 30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.