Artwork
Swallow it, Dog!, Plate 58
Swallow it, Dog!, Plate 58 is a print by the Romanticist artist Francisco de Goya. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1922.653
- Credit line
- Dudley P. Allen Fund
About this work
Overview
Francisco de Goya’s print titled Swallow it, Dog!, catalogued as Plate 58, dates from around 1799. Executed as a single sheet, the work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed among the museum’s holdings of late‑18th‑century prints.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a cramped interior illuminated by a single, harsh light source. A cloaked figure on the left gestures emphatically toward a cluster of startled figures, one of whom clutches his abdomen. The title, a seemingly abrupt command, suggests a warning or a sardonic remark directed at the assembled group, hinting at a narrative of tension or impending danger.
Technique & Style
Goya employs a stark chiaroscuro, juxtaposing deep shadows with bright highlights to concentrate the viewer’s focus on the faces and gestures. The strong contrasts accentuate the emotional intensity, while the loose, expressive lines convey a sense of immediacy characteristic of his late‑period graphic work.
History & Provenance
Created near the turn of the nineteenth century, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the early twentieth century. Its provenance prior to that remains undocumented, but the work reflects Goya’s prolific output of satirical and socially charged prints during this period.
Context
Plate 58 belongs to a series of prints in which Goya explored themes of social unrest, superstition, and human folly. Produced during a time of political upheaval in Spain, the work resonates with the artist’s broader critique of authority and the anxieties of ordinary people.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker.
