The Copies after Velázquez are a series of prints made by Goya after paintings by Diego Velázquez held in the royal collections. More than mere reproductions, these images reveal the profound dialogue that Goya established with the great master of the Spanish Golden Age.
Through etching and aquatint, Goya translates Velázquez’s painterly values into the language of printmaking. Rather than simply copying, he reinterprets atmosphere, light, and psychological depth using his own graphic resources, demonstrating both technical mastery and creative independence.
These prints reflect Goya’s admiration for Velázquez and his desire to position himself within a Spanish artistic tradition that he simultaneously renews. The Copies show how printmaking can become a means of study, homage, and artistic creation, affirming the continuity between two of the most significant figures in Spanish art history.