Ysele quema la Casa. 1796 - 1797

This is ‘Ysele quema la Casa’ made by Francisco Goya, we think around 1814-1823, using etching. This print is part of a series called ‘Los Disparates’, or ‘The Follies’. Goya made them after the Peninsular War. They capture the mood in Spain at this time, with lots of uncertainty, and social and political unrest. Here, we see an old man lighting a chair on fire with a crazed look on his face. The title translates to "He burns the house". This print creates meaning through its stark imagery. The man's ragged clothing tells us he is poor, and his actions are self-destructive. The prints in ‘Los Disparates’ seem to critique the institutions of art and government. They are full of dark humor, which reflects Goya's own skepticism. To understand this work fully, art historians look at all sorts of research resources, like letters and political documents from the time. Art’s meaning depends so much on its social and institutional context.