Isabel de Borbon
1778
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1778
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
A woman in a lace mantilla looks over her shoulder at us. The lines are quick, almost scribbled, but her face is calm and clear. Goya made this etching in 1778, early in his career. It’s one of the first times he tried drypoint—scratching directly into the metal plate for softer, velvety shadows. The technique was new to him, so the print feels loose and alive. To see how he got even bolder, look up more works by Goya, Francisco.
