Hay Ay Que Me Canso 1824

Rosario Weiss Zorrilla made this ink drawing, "Hay Ay Que Me Canso," at a time when Spanish art was deeply entwined with social commentary. Weiss, daughter of Francisco Goya, likely produced this work in the 1830s or early 1840s. The drawing depicts a figure in costume. The harlequin-like figure recalls the traditions of the carnival, a festival that allowed for inversion of social norms. The inscription "Hay ay que me canso" suggests an attitude of weariness or exhaustion. During this time, Spain was undergoing significant political and social upheaval, caught between traditionalism and liberal reform. Artists like Weiss, working in the shadow of Goya, often used their art to reflect on these tensions, questioning authority and highlighting the struggles of everyday life. Understanding this drawing involves looking at the social function of art in 19th-century Spain, using sources like political pamphlets and social commentaries, and understanding the institutional context of artistic training. It requires us to see art as a response to specific historical conditions.