Description
In If he is guilty, let him die quickly, Francisco de Goya isolates a shackled man against a nearly black background. His body bends forward, his head sinks toward his chest, and the pale folds of his clothing stand out against the densely worked darkness. The close framing leaves little room around the prisoner, intensifying the sense of confinement.
The Metropolitan Museum dates this etching to about 1815 and records its publication in 1859. Goya’s terse title draws attention to the suffering imposed by punishment, while the image keeps the viewer’s attention on the vulnerable body of one person. Fine etched lines make the contrast between illuminated fabric and enclosing shadow especially stark.
Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Goya collection.
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