1814-1820, published 1863

Feline Pantomime (Gatesca Pantomima)

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes

Spanish, 1746 - 1828

This strange scene is part of the final section of Los Desastres, known as the caprichos enfaticos (emphatic caprices). Goya produced this group of images after the end of the French occupation of Spain in response to the oppressive governance of King Ferdinand VII. The allegorical scenes are thought to convey Goya’s disenchantment with the current political and social environment in Spain.

While exact meaning of this print remains unclear, some scholars have suggested that the sphinxlike cat may represent Ferdinand VII. The owl, which signifies ignorance, and the kneeling monk could symbolize those factions devoted to the monarchy. The use of abstract hatched lines in the background creates an ambiguous setting for the scene of animal veneration.