Artwork
Estan Calientes (They Are Hot)
Estan Calientes (They Are Hot) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Francisco Goya. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Estan Calientes (They Are Hot) is an etching and aquatint with burnishing on laid paper, created by Spanish artist Francisco Goya in 1799. This print exemplifies Goya's use of the medium to explore social and political themes, characteristic of his practice during a transitional period in his career.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts four men around a table, their faces contorted in shock and disgust as they react to an unseen content on a plate. The tense, foreboding atmosphere, enhanced by a looming dark shadow, suggests the men's alarm at discovering something incomprehensible or disturbing.
Technique & Style
Goya employed etching, aquatint, and burnishing techniques on laid paper. The work showcases his mastery of chiaroscuro and dramatic lighting, creating a dramatic focal point that engages the viewer.
History & Provenance
Created in 1799, Estan Calientes marks a period when Goya's art shifted towards more critical and modern approaches, bridging traditional Old Master techniques with emerging modern styles.
Context
This piece reflects Goya's broader engagement with contemporary social and political issues through printmaking, a medium he valued for its ability to address topical themes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; Spanish: ; 30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker.
Nadie nos ha visto (No One Has Seen Us)
Duendecitos (Hobgoblins)
The Proverbs: Loyalty
It is Time, Plate 80
La lealtad (Loyalty)
Disparate desordenado (Disorderly Folly)
Que viene el coco (Here Comes the Bogey-Man)
The Proverbs: General Folly
There is Plenty to Suck, Plate 45
Sanan cuchilladas mas no malas palabras (Wounds Heal Quicker than Hasty Words)
The Proverbs: Wounds Heal Quicker Than Hasty Words
They are Hot, Plate 13