Swallow it, dog
1796-1797
In this biting satire from his famous *Los Caprichos* series (specifically plate 58), Goya depicts a chaotic scene of religious coercion. A monk in white robes aggressively force-feeds a terrified, kneeling man while grotesque, grinning figures and a shadowy demon look on from the darkness. The title 'Swallow it, dog' is a harsh insult, widely interpreted as a critique of the Inquisition's forced confessions or the administration of last rites to the unwilling. Interestingly, the phrase 'Tragala' later became a popular liberal anthem in 19th-century Spain, sung to mock the very clergy Goya is critiquing here, adding a layer of historical irony to this dark etching.
- Technique
- Etching and aquatint
- Material
- Paper
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