There is Plenty to Suck - Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes

A satirical etching from Goya's 'Los Caprichos' series, depicting grotesque figures in a dark, allegorical scene of social commentary.

This etching and aquatint, titled 'Mucho hay que chupar' (There is Plenty to Suck), is plate 45 from Francisco Goya's celebrated series 'Los Caprichos'. Published in 1799, this collection of eighty prints functions as a biting critique of the social, political, and religious institutions of late eighteenth-century Spain. Goya employs his mastery of aquatint to create deep, atmospheric shadows that heighten the grotesque nature of his subjects.

The composition depicts three elderly, witch-like figures huddled together. Their faces are distorted, reflecting Goya's interest in physiognomy as a tool for moral commentary. In the foreground, a basket filled with small, doll-like figures sits before them. The title suggests a cynical observation on exploitation, greed, or the parasitic nature of those in power. The presence of bats in the upper register adds a layer of dark, nocturnal symbolism, a common motif in Goya's work to represent ignorance or the irrational forces of the human psyche.

Goya's technique here is precise yet expressive. The etched lines define the sharp, angular features of the figures, while the aquatint wash provides a soft, tonal depth that grounds the scene in a murky, unsettling reality. By moving away from the formal constraints of his earlier court commissions, Goya used this medium to explore the darker corners of human behaviour. This print remains a clear example of his ability to blend social satire with a personal, often nightmarish, vision. The work invites the viewer to look beyond the surface of the grotesque to identify the underlying human follies that Goya sought to expose through his art.