Los ensacados (The Men in Sacks)
1816
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1816
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a group of people in dark robes, some carrying sacks. They’re walking in a line along a waterfront, with a boat in the background. The scene looks tense, with shadows and smudgy lines making everything feel mysterious. The artist used a technique called burnished aquatint to create smooth tones and texture. It’s not clear what’s in the sacks, but the mood is uneasy. Look up etching, drypoint, aquatint to see how artists like Goya made prints like this.
