When day breaks we will be off

Details

Author’s text

Ignorance, lack of education and superstition are the protagonists in this print. They are embodied by this group of dreadful faces and decrepit bodies. All these characters feel confortable while being protected by the sinister spectre of the unreasonableness: They are allowed to roam freely since darkness, blindness, obfuscation and prejudices, amongst many others, stand up for them. All these personified attitudes quite often prevent us from a personal and sociocultural growth.

In this print Goya shows his unquestionable skills when combining an image and a simple pun: lights and shadows of the human nature. Daylight will certainly come, however, what it is not very certain is the dawn of the Enlightenment, the rational thinking and wisdom. Nonetheless, if the latter light finally comes, the grotesque characters will vanish, as night fades out when dawn breaks.

This piece of artwork together with number 43: “When reason is not awake, monsters are created” are the ones which contain the general idea and the main purpose of the series. They both try to show us the consequences with which we have to deal when understanding, rational thinking, consideration and good judgement are missing.

Goya's comment

Despite of your presence, you were unnecessary.

Comparison with the original print