Details

Author's text

This self-portrait was chosen by Goya to be the cover of the prints series: ‘Los Caprichos’. We can clearly appreciate his distinguished-seized profile, satirical gesture and penetrating gaze.

There are about 23 known Goya’s self-portraits. He usually appears on his own, however he sometimes appears as a character within his paintings.

The self-portrait is indeed a very common piece of art among painters since they use them in order to register their mood, be remembered or simply become known. In order to carry out this self-portrait in particular, Goya had to skillfully make use of some mirrors since by that time, it was the only way artists were able to portray their own appearance.

As it may happen with other artists, thanks to the self-portrait genre we have the opportunity to get closer to a more private view of the painter himself and his high valuable legacy.

Goya's comment

The print series Los Caprichos is depicted by Francisco de Goya himself.

Comparison with the original print