Ni asi la distingue (Even Thus He Cannot Make Her Out)

in or before 1799

Francisco Goya

Associated Names
Francisco Goya

Artist, Spanish, 1746 - 1828

The image displays three individuals. Two of them are shown in full view, while the third person is partially visible. The person in the center stands upright with their body slightly turned to the side. They have delicate facial features with fine lines, long curly hair framing their face, and are dressed in a long, patterned skirt and blouse with arms crossed over their chest. To the left, a man leans forward facing the central figure with affection, has long hair tied back, wears a coat and breeches, and holds a hat. A young child peeks around his side with only their face visible. In the background, a woman is seated on a bench, wearing a dress and holding a fan. The background features intricate patterns suggesting a textured surface with shadowing for depth.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching, aquatint and drypoint on laid paper [proof before letters]

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 20 x 15.1 cm (7 7/8 x 5 15/16 in.)
    sheet: 26.5 x 20.1 cm (10 7/16 x 7 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1953.6.69

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Harris 1964, no. 42, State I(2) (working proof)


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Mariano Ballester (1916-1981), Paris and Murcia (Lugt 1860b). Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], Jenkintown, PA; gift to NGA, 1953.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2001

  • Goya: Images of Women, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2002, no. 74, as Ni asi la distingue (Even Thus He Cannot Make Her Out).

Bibliography

1964

  • Harris, Tomás. Goya: engravings and lithographs. 2 vols. Oxford: Bruno Cassirer, 1964.

2001

  • Goya: Images of Women. Exh. cat. Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid; National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2001-2002: no. 74.

Inscriptions

recto: in plate, in image, at lower left: Goya; verso: at upper left in graphite in later hand: I; at lower left in graphite in later hand: 8150118

Markings

Mariano Ballester (Lugt 1860b) and National Gallery of Art

Watermarks

none

Wikidata ID

Q65223788

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