Duendecitos. 1796 - 1797

"Duendecitos" was etched by Francisco Goya, most likely sometime between 1797 and 1799. In it we see a group of goblin-like figures drinking in what appears to be a prison cell. Goya was working in Spain during a time of great social and political upheaval. He was a court painter, but also a social critic, and his work often reflected his concerns about the corruption and injustice he saw around him. In this print, Goya seems to be commenting on the state of the Spanish justice system. The "duendecitos," or little goblins, could be seen as representing the corrupt officials who were in charge of the prisons. The fact that they are drinking and carousing in a prison cell suggests that they are not taking their duties seriously. To understand Goya's work, we must delve into the archives, studying the history of Spain, the history of the Spanish court, and the history of the Inquisition. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.