Det værste er, at man må tigge (55) 1810 - 1820

This print by Francisco de Goya, is made using etching and aquatint. These are both intaglio processes, meaning that the image is incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The aquatint gives Goya’s image its tonal range and depth, the fineness of the etched lines adding stark detail and structure. This is not art for art's sake, but rather art as social commentary, and Goya here uses the print medium to great effect. His chosen techniques allowed him to create multiple impressions and disseminate his work widely, to convey powerful messages about the human condition. The bleak depiction of poverty and desperation, as suggested by the work's title, "The worst thing is to beg," reflects the political and social turmoil of the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Spain. Goya’s mastery of materials and processes underscores the importance of craft in conveying profound social and political meaning.