About this artwork
Plate 3 of The Caprices features a mother with her two children who are frightened by a blanketed figure of el coco (the bogeyman) in the foreground. The mother’s expression contrasts with those of her children: she smiles in gratitude and appreciation. Goya is criticizing the common practice of using fear to keep children well behaved. The print also contains a spelling error, as Goya spells viene, the Spanish verb for “to come,” incorrectly. This is a common mistake due to similarity in sounds between the Spanish b and v. He corrected it in later editions of the print.
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Currently Off View
- Prints and Drawings
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Artist
- Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes
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Title
- Here Comes the Bogeyman, plate three from Los Caprichos
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Origin
- Spain
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Date
- 1797–1799
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Medium
- Etching and aquatint on ivory laid paper
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Dimensions
- 193 x 136 mm (image); 217 x 153 mm (plate); 301 x 205 mm (sheet)
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Credit Line
- Clarence Buckingham Collection
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Reference Number
- 1948.110.3
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email .
