Los Caprichos (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) [Paperback]

Francisco Goya (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Fine Art, History of Art | Publication Date: June 1, 1969

Considered Goya's most brilliant work, this collection combines corrosive satire and exquisite technique to depict 18th-century Spain as a nation of grotesque monsters sprung up in the absence of reason. 80 plates, Prado manuscript included.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Spanish (translation)

Product Details

• Paperback: 183 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1969)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486223841
• ISBN-13: 978-0486223841
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,703 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Goya sets the bar, June 16, 2007

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A. Davis "asdav" (Berkshires) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Los Caprichos (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really interesting., November 8, 2011

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10000bb - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Los Caprichos (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

I learned about Fransisco De Goya in my Spanish class and was interested in some of his works. And this book is good to have, because it has the English name of the title, and is easy to find what you want.

5.0 out of 5 stars Goya is Go...od., December 28, 2011

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Gaddijj - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Los Caprichos (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

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!