El de la rollona. 1796 - 1797

Curator: Good morning. We're looking at "El de la rollona," an etching by Francisco Goya, created between 1796 and 1797. It’s part of a series that captures the darker side of Spanish society. Editor: Dark is definitely the word! There's this brooding unease that comes across immediately, this figure looking utterly distraught next to… what is that, a bowl? It's all so stark and unsettling. Curator: That brooding atmosphere is quite intentional, I think. Goya uses aquatint to great effect here, creating deep shadows and a sense of claustrophobia. Notice how the light seems to focus almost exclusively on the figure’s face, highlighting the distress. Editor: The formal qualities enhance this expressive mood—the figure seems hunched and confined within the picture. The aquatint application generates contrast but also softness and tone variation throughout. Curator: Precisely! "El de la rollona"—it loosely translates to "He of the Brothel"—is believed to depict a man agonizing over gambling debts or perhaps disease contracted from a prostitute. Look at the details Goya includes; the discarded dice and the generally unkempt appearance... it speaks volumes about the man's predicament. Editor: Right, Goya doesn’t need to spell things out. We can feel the character's desperation. The almost caricatured style only amplifies the satire—it’s Romanticism at its most biting! Curator: It's Romanticism twisted, wouldn't you agree? He moves beyond sentimentality and pure aesthetics and takes you right into societal ills and deep, personal anguish. Goya wanted us to think, to feel the uncomfortable truths lurking beneath the surface. Editor: Absolutely, the raw, emotional quality hits hard, but with a semiotic twist, the dice, posture and facial affect constitute a visual vocabulary encoding destitution and decadence in old world Europe. The effect stays with you. Curator: Yes, the interplay of shadow and light, combined with his powerful figuration, achieves such impact, Goya definitely had his ways. Thank you for sharing these insightful thoughts with me. Editor: It was a real treat exploring Goya’s somber wit. A very unique and intriguing artist indeed.