1797-1798, published 1799
They've Already Got a Seat (Ya tienen asiento)
Francisco José de Goya y LucientesSpanish, 1746 - 1828
The surprising placement of the chairs in this scene reveals Goya’s playful approach to the relationship between image and language. In the title, the word asiento can be translated as both seat and judgment, suggesting that the women are thinking with their bottoms.
Despite the absurdity of their appearance, the scantily dressed women appear unaware of the jeering crowd. The etching may also allude to the folly of female fashion, which leads women to abandon good judgment for the sake of appearance.
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