Plate 1 from ‘Los Caprichos’: Self-portrait

Description

In Self-portrait, Francisco Goya presents himself in profile, wearing a tall hat that gives the portrait a firm and memorable outline. The face appears attentive rather than demonstrative, with the turn of the head creating a sense of reserved observation. The image introduces an artist whose gaze will remain active throughout the scenes that follow.

Published in 1799 as the first plate of Los Caprichos, this self-portrait stands at the threshold of the series’ social and fantastic investigations. Etching, aquatint, drypoint and burin give the likeness both tonal weight and precise detail. Its authority comes from the concentration of a single individual rather than an elaborate setting. Goya establishes a personal presence before opening a wider world of human folly, making the observer visible before the objects of his scrutiny.

Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Goya collection.