Goya's 'Caprichos' Series, Exploring Reason's Sleep and Emerging Monsters, Arrives in Korea

Seoul's 예술의전당 (Arts Center) is hosting a groundbreaking exhibition, "When Reason Sleeps, Monsters Awaken," showcasing Francisco Goya's complete 80-print etching series, 'Los Caprichos' (Caprices), for the first time in South Korea. The collection, originally published in 1799, delves into the darker aspects of human nature, visualizing hidden desires, anxieties, and fears through grotesque and fantastical imagery of monsters and phantoms.

The exhibition prominently features the 43rd print, "The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters," which lends its title to the show. This iconic work depicts a sleeping man surrounded by owls, bats, and lynx-like creatures, symbolizing the emergence of irrationality and darkness when reason is absent. The Spanish inscription on the desk, 'El sueño de la razón produce monstruos,' directly translates to the print's title and has resonated through centuries, often invoked in contexts of societal turmoil and political division.

'Los Caprichos' emerged during a period of profound personal and societal upheaval for Goya. Following a severe illness in 1793 that left him deaf, the artist retreated and began to critically examine the human psyche and the corrupt Spanish society of his time. As a former court painter who witnessed the abuses of the monarchy and the Inquisition, Goya used the series to express his disillusionment, blending social satire with profound reflections on human greed and bestiality. His innovative use of aquatint etching allowed for intricate detail and dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, prefiguring 20th-century art movements like Expressionism and Surrealism.

The exhibition, organized by the commercial gallery UNSE Gallery using works from the New York-based Revolo Collection, presents an early edition of the 'Los Caprichos' series. Visitors can explore the 80 prints across six sections, accompanied by explanatory panels detailing their historical context, Goya's intentions, and his techniques. Other notable prints include "The Hunt of Teeth," a satire on superstition, and "Nightmare," which allegorically depicts the harsh realities faced by lower-class women in late 18th-century Spain. The exhibition also includes media art reinterpretations of Goya's major works and a recreation of his "Black Paintings" studio, offering a comprehensive look at the artist's oeuvre until September 30.