Miren que grabes! (Look how solemn they are!) (1796-1797)

"Miren que graves!" (Look how solemn they are!) is an evocative etching by Francisco de Goya, a master painter and printmaker of the Spanish Romantic period. Part of his famed "Los Caprichos" series, this piece, created between 1796 and 1797, stands as a critique of human behavior and societal norms.The etching presents a grotesque and surreal scene where three figures, depicted with the heads of a hare, a rooster, and a bull, engage in a troubling and eerie interaction. These animal-headed figures appear to straddle the line between humans and beasts, each displaying expressions that suggest deep solemnity or distress. The central figure with the hare's head is particularly grim, serving as a focal point for the viewer's attention.In the background, Goya hints at a landscape barely visible beyond the tense foreground tableau, perhaps suggesting that such bizarre and disturbing actions are not just confined to a hypothetical realm but are pervasive across society.With "Miren que graves!", Goya delves into the duality of human nature, exploring themes of hypocrisy, morality, and the masks people wear to conform to societal expectations. This piece continues to resonate, urging us to consider what lies beneath the surface of our social interactions and what horrors might be lurking behind the facades we encounter daily.