You Who Cannot
Technical details
Author:
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes
Title:
You Who Cannot
Timeline:
1799
Technique:
Burnished aquafortis and aquatint
Description
Goya depicted two hefty and satisfied asses who are riding on the backs of two poor peasants with faces expressing their tiredness and suffering. Goya strongly censures the idle and unproductive nobility, who live off the rent obtained from their farmland and feudal entitlements, reflected in heavy burdens for the peasants. It was also from the peasants and other unprivileged classes that the state received its taxes and contributions, from which the nobility and clergy were exempt.
Location in the museum
You may find this artwork on Floor 2 Goya’s Etchings