‎ Dover Publications

Los Caprichos Dover Fine Art History of Art

4.3

$26.99

About this item

  • After a serious illness in 1792, Goya spent five years recuperating and preparing himself for the burst of creativity that was to follow. He read deeply in the French revolutionary philosophers. From Rousseau he evolved the idea that imagination divorced from reason produces monsters, but that coupled with reason "it is the mother of the arts and the source of their wonders." In Spain he saw a country that had abandoned reason, and he peopled Los Caprichos with the grotesque monsters that result from such an action. Plate after plate shows witches, asses, devils, and other strange creatures, many of which are caricatures of members of the society against which Goya was fighting. The plates were first published in 1799. There are still in existence, however, six extremely rare sets of artist's proofs, considered by most who have managed to Rated 4.3 out of 5.
Specification

Product facts

Key details

publisher
Dover Publications
publication_date
June 1, 1969
edition
First Thus
language
English
isbn10
0486223841

Dimensions and fit

weight
‎ 12.8 ounces
print_length
192 pages
item_weight
12.8 ounces
dimensions
6.5 x 0.5 x 9 inches

Item information

isbn13
978-0486223841
part_of_series
Dover Fine Art, History of Art
best_sellers_rank
#895,609 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #268 in European Art History #510 in Individual Artists' Books #1,306 in Arts & Photography Criticism
Overview

About this item

  • After a serious illness in 1792, Goya spent five years recuperating and preparing himself for the burst of creativity that was to follow. He read deeply in the French revolutionary philosophers. From Rousseau he evolved the idea that imagination divorced from reason produces monsters, but that coupled with reason "it is the mother of the arts and the source of their wonders." In Spain he saw a country that had abandoned reason, and he peopled Los Caprichos with the grotesque monsters that result from such an action. Plate after plate shows witches, asses, devils, and other strange creatures, many of which are caricatures of members of the society against which Goya was fighting. The plates were first published in 1799. There are still in existence, however, six extremely rare sets of artist's proofs, considered by most who have managed to Rated 4.3 out of 5.

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8 reviewsPositive

Rated 4.3/5 across 8 reviews — well received overall.

  • 100% of sampled reviews are from verified purchases.
  • 75% of sampled reviews give 4–5 stars.

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★★★★★

Goya sets the bar

This book is phenomenal. The only thing I could say against it is it's a bit small, but I believe the images are actual size, so of course there's not much to be done. A good hardcover edition would show these off very well. These Dover art books are a great, cheap way to get access to images like these if you can't commit to a fine edition or, should you be so fortunate, one of the original prints themselves. Goya one-upped Surrealism, Expressionism, and much more, a hundred years before the fact. These prints take you on a dream journey through some startlingly original imagery that scrutinizes human social engagement with an unsparing eye. Cynical would be too soft a word for some of the images, but somehow it's hard to disagree with Goya's positions. You feel like people were often that empty in Spanish society of the time. And what about today? As for the formal side, the etchings are technically inventive, uninhibited, masterful, confident, and often understated. Goya is content to let a few lines and a dark mass of aquatint evoke a whole interior, alleyway, or landscape. In a way, these prints also relate to Edward Gorey, Tim Burton, and many more. In fifty years you'll be able to rack up a new breed of descendents. Their influence, I'm sure, will be timeless. Read more

A. DavisVerified purchase
★★★★★

It's Goya.

An old Hungarian proverb: 'tell the truth, then run'. Goya's work, especially The Caprichos, is brutally honest, painful, and absolutely essential for just these reasons. The perfect antidote to our frivolous complacency. Speaking of which: the price ain't bad, either. Read more

ScoopVerified purchase
★★★★

Focus on the prints

An diverse collection of Goya's drawings which become increasingly nightmarish. The captions and explanations are in the original Spanish with English translation. As the prologue notes, the explanations are not written by Goya (although the captions are), which is why the explanations don't always make sense and often seem bowdlerized. Landscape mode on iPad kindle put the captions and explanation adjacent to the picture for most plates except the first few. Portrait mode is best for picture viewing though. Read more

MonkikiVerified purchase
★★★★★

Goya is Go...od.

First I love Goya's work. If you like bizarre and unusual images you'll like this book. Nothing obscene but just bizarre imagery. The book has all of his woodblock prints from Caprichos. Google Caprichos and you'll get a small portion of the ones in this book. This book is unique because it is the first that contains all the caprichos (captions), their spanish translations into English, and the original introduction. The original set of these, if I'm correct were destroyed by the Inquisition as a way to censor is his critique of the corrupt church. For me this was a rare moment of taking a chance on a book and getting exactly what i could hope for. I hope you enjoy. Before you buy check out the images on a search engine. If you like what you see buy it! Read more

GaddijjVerified purchase
★★★★★

A classic book and a great gift

A classic book of prints for a youbg girl in Mexico with precocious tastes. Will make a very special gift for the right kind of art fan. Read more

JohnVerified purchase
★★★★★

Beyond things that go bump in the night

Eighty wonderful and weird etchings and aquatints illustrating Goya's criticism of foolish behavior in Spain in 1799. Read more

Hawks GullVerified purchase
★★★★★

Goya's the best

Inexpensive way to get Goya's Caprichos. Every artist should know this work. Art doesn't get better than this. If you don't dig it, become an accountant... and if you are an accountant and dig this book...you are one of us Read more

Daido KleinVerified purchase
★★★★

The one I could find

This is a collection of the 80 prints of the Spanish artist Francisco Goya in 1797 and 1798. The work is very interesting and strange. It was the source I could find but the editors could have done a better job: the paper is not very good and the reproductions look a bit faded. There are also, at the end of the book some of the studies he made to create some of the prints. Read more

Paulo WaisbergVerified purchase

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