Wie is onderdaniger? 1797 - 1799

Francisco Goya created this etching, titled "Wie is onderdaniger?", sometime between 1797 and 1799. It's an image that seems to capture a moment of social tension. Here, we see a woman standing tall, almost defiant, while a man kneels before her, grasping at her dress with a look that could be read as either admiration or desperation. The question posed by the title, "Who is more submissive?", invites us to consider the power dynamics at play. Made in Spain, this image can be seen as a commentary on the social structures of its time. Goya was a court painter, deeply embedded in the Spanish aristocracy, yet he often used his art to critique the very world he inhabited. To truly understand this print, we might delve into the history of Spanish social customs, gender roles, and the artist's other works, perhaps finding clues in his personal letters or the critical writings of his contemporaries. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.