Customer Reviews

Los caprichos

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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.

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.

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!

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.

Los Capricos and Los Disparates are my two favorite series of Goya prints, though I love and cherish them all. His technique and imagination; his nightmarish, evocative, satirical and raw subject matter (more mysterious in Los Disparates); his philosophy and fearlessness; his exquisite unusual graphic sense of composition in weight distribution, line, form, and emotional and tonal values interlock to overwhelm my mind with Goya's genius. His work is so damned complex! Another mind-boggling graphic genius is Lautrec but that's a totally different story and beside the point. He came to mind as I was thinking about transcendent compositions. Anyway, I have analyzed and enjoyed Goya's prints thousands of times and never cease to be amazed and humbled by the mystery that surrounds this artist's mind. His talent is unparalleled. Note: If you are not yet acquainted with Goya's prints, the two series I mention here are not for the squeamish, nor is Disasters of War.

Dover's copy of Goya's "Los Caprichos" is a wonderful book - especially for the price. The reproductions look good and contain captions as well as Goya's own commentary of the subject in English translation. There is an informative introduction by Mr. Philip Hofer, whose collection of artist's proofs the book reproduces. Dover is great about publishing great art books at an inexpensive cost and this book is a prime example.

Very complete collection. Facinating images. I am glad I have this to add to my collection of art books

I ordered several copies of Los Caprichos (GOYA books) from the seller. All arrived in mint condition and on time.

Goya aparently did this book to show how silly the superstitions of the common people were, and still are.