Spanish Engravers

A Brief History of Spanish Printmaking

Until the late 16th century, Spain was more of an artistic province of Europe, and the work of painters was strictly controlled by the Inquisition . Nevertheless, it was precisely at the turn of the 16th–17th centuries, during the "Spanish Golden Age" of painting, that masters emerged who laid the foundations for a national school of printmaking.

Early Period (17th Century): Forging a Tradition
During this period, engraving often served a reproductive purpose—recreating works by great contemporaries.

Francisco Herrera the Elder (1576–1656) — a painter, engraver, and medalist, founder of the Seville school and the first teacher of Diego Velázquez . His work is noted for its energetic style and mastery of chiaroscuro.

Francisco López (1554–1629) — a court painter to King Philip III who created engravings for notable publications, such as Vicente Carducho's "Dialogues on Painting" .

José (Jusepe) de Ribera (1591–1652) — a towering figure of this century. Although he lived and worked in Naples, he is considered the most significant Spanish engraver before Goya . Ribera left a vast body of graphic work, and his etchings, full of drama and Caravaggesque contrasts of light and shadow, influenced all subsequent art.

The Apex of Spanish Printmaking: Francisco de Goya (1746–1828)
A true revolution in Spanish and world printmaking was brought about by Francisco de Goya. It was in this medium that he created his most powerful and innovative works, which cemented his fame forever .

Goya began with reproductive engraving, producing in 1778 a series of brilliant etchings after paintings by his idol Diego Velázquez . But his greatest achievements were yet to come.

Starting in 1793, he created one famous series after another:

"Los Caprichos" (The Caprices, 1793–1798) — 80 plates full of satire and the grotesque. Goya lashes out against the vices of the Spanish people, ignorance, superstition, the power of the Church, prostitution, and witchcraft . The most famous print from the series is "The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters" .

"The Disasters of War" (Los desastres de la guerra, 1810–1815) — 80 plates depicting the horrors of the French invasion of Spain. These are not documentary sketches but images full of rage and indignation at the scenes of brutality and violence .

"Los Proverbios" (The Proverbs, c. 1810) — 18 plates featuring fantastic, often dark and enigmatic scenes .

Goya was a virtuoso of etching and aquatint, creating a visual language that would later be spoken by the Expressionists and Surrealists. His engravings had a colossal influence on all of 19th and 20th-century art.

Key Masters of Spanish Printmaking:

Francisco Herrera the Elder

Francisco López

José de Ribera

Francisco de Goya