Artwork

Nadie se conoce (Nobody Knows Himself)

Nadie se conoce (Nobody Knows Himself), by Francisco Goya, ink, 1799
Nadie se conoce (Nobody Knows Himself), by Francisco Goya, ink, 1799

Nadie se conoce (Nobody Knows Himself) 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

Nadie se conoce (Nobody Knows Himself) is an etching and aquatint on wove paper created by Francisco de Goya in 1799. It is part of a series of prints that examine the human condition and societal norms.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a man and woman in 18th-century clothing against a dark background. The man, wearing a large hat and holding a sword, is accompanied by a woman in a long gown. The title, written at the bottom, suggests the scene may be commenting on the superficiality of social interactions.

Technique & Style

Goya employed etching and aquatint techniques to achieve a sense of depth and texture. The use of dark tones and dramatic lighting contributes to the overall mood, characteristic of the emerging Romanticism style.

History & Provenance

The print is part of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, collection. Goya, born in 1746 in Fuendetodos, Spain, was a prominent figure in Spanish art, bridging the Old Masters and modern art with his work in painting, drawing, and printmaking.

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: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.