Stijgen en vallen - Francisco de Goya

A satirical etching from Goya's Los Caprichos series, depicting the precarious nature of power through a grotesque, allegorical struggle.

This etching, titled Stijgen en vallen (Rising and Falling), is plate 56 from Francisco de Goya's celebrated series, Los Caprichos. Published in 1799, the series functions as a biting social critique of Spanish society, addressing themes of superstition, corruption, and human folly. Goya employs a combination of etching and aquatint to create the atmospheric, grey-toned background that defines the series.

The composition depicts a central figure, dressed in the attire of a courtier or aristocrat, balanced precariously upon the shoulders of a monstrous, satyr-like creature. The figure above holds small, flame-like objects in each hand, their expression one of manic glee. Below, the creature struggles under the weight, while another figure is seen tumbling headlong into the darkness. The imagery serves as a visual metaphor for the instability of power and the inevitable collapse of those who rise through deceit or vanity.

Goya's line work is precise, using fine hatching to model the musculature of the beast and the textured clothing of the man. The aquatint provides a soft, tonal depth that separates the figures from the void, focusing the viewer's attention on the physical struggle. As a master of the print medium, Goya used these works to explore the darker aspects of the human condition, moving away from the formal portraiture of his earlier career. This print remains a clear example of his ability to blend grotesque fantasy with sharp political observation. The work is held in numerous international collections, including the British Museum and the Museo del Prado, where it is studied for its technical innovation and its unflinching look at the social hierarchies of the late eighteenth century.