Who painted When Day Breaks We Will Be Off, Plate 71?

When Day Breaks We Will Be Off, Plate 71 was painted by Francisco de Goya in 1799.

Where can I see When Day Breaks We Will Be Off, Plate 71?

When Day Breaks We Will Be Off, Plate 71 is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is When Day Breaks We Will Be Off, Plate 71?

When Day Breaks We Will Be Off, Plate 71 is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

When Day Breaks We Will Be Off, Plate 71

Francisco de Goya , 1799

When Day Breaks We Will Be Off, Plate 71 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.: 1956.274
Credit line: Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland

About this work

Overview

The background is densely populated with tiny stars, rendered through multiple layers of aquatint to achieve a deep, atmospheric effect.

Created in 1799 as part of the Los Caprichos series, this aquatint print by Francisco de Goya depicts three cloaked figures, traditionally identified as witches, hovering in a night sky. Their eyes are shut and arms outstretched, giving the impression of a blind, aimless ascent. The background is densely populated with tiny stars, rendered through multiple layers of aquatint to achieve a deep, atmospheric effect.

Subject & Meaning

The floating figures serve as a satirical allegory of superstition and unthinking belief. By showing the witches soaring without broomsticks or any visible support, Goya likens blind faith to a flight that lacks direction or foundation, critiquing the irrational tendencies he observed in late‑18th‑century Spanish society.

Technique & Style

Goya employed the aquatint process, a relatively new method at the time, to build up tonal gradations that suggest a star‑filled firmament. The print’s soft transitions and muted shadows echo the sfumato approach, creating a smoky, almost ethereal ambience that enhances the work’s unsettling mood.

History & Provenance

Los Caprichos was published in 1799 as a limited edition of 100 copies, each signed by Goya. The series was intended for a private audience, allowing the artist to address controversial topics without the scrutiny associated with public oil paintings. This particular plate, numbered 71, has been held in several European collections before entering its present museum.

Context

The late 1700s in Spain were marked by social tension, religious conservatism, and the spread of Enlightenment ideas. Goya’s prints responded to these currents, using humor and grotesque imagery to expose hypocrisy and irrationality within the cultural and political climate of his time.