Andarse Por Las Ramas (To go amongst the branches), Disparate Ridiculo; plate 3 from Los Proverbios

Francisco Goya

"Andarse Pos Las Ramas" (To Go Amongst the Branches) also called "Disparate Ridiculo" is an intaglio, an etching, aquatint, and drypoint) by the great Spanish painter/printmaker Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828), done originally between 1819 and 1824 but not printed until after 1864 as a posthumous edition, as were most of Goya's editioned intaglios. The platemark measures 9-5/8 x 13-7/8 inches. This image is plate 3 from the "Las Proverbios" suite (also called the 'Disparates') of 18 plates.

This impression is from the first edition of 300 (before plate numbers were added to the lower left corners) and was printed by Laurenciano Potenciano who had printed previously Goya's masterpiece Desastres de la Guerra in 1863, and published posthumously in 1864 by the Academia de Nobles Artes de San Fernando on sheet of heavy, antique-white wove J.G.O. western paper that measures 13-1/4 x19 inches. References for this image include: Harris 250; Delteil 204. Provenance includes the red collector's stamp of A. Marioni (L150B) in the lower margin.

Goya did the plates for the "Disparates" around 1816 - 20. Working proofs were pulled of some but it was in 1848 that some unevenly printed posthumous prints were pulled. Though some poorly printed trial proofs had been pulled by printer Roman Sarreta in 1854, this first well printed edition of 18 plates was printed by Laurenciano Potenciano in 1864 for the Academia, published as "Los Proverbios." The first edition included 60 sets for the members of the academy and 240 for sale to the public. This impression is from that first edition, printed by Potenciano. It has the collector's stamp of A. Maroni (L150b) in red ink in the left margin. Four additional plates were discovered later. There were at least 8 subsequent editions printed up into 1937 on different papers and varying quality of printing.

The subject, also known as "Extravagant Folly" or "Ridiculous Folly" depicts a coven of witches in a tree (one has a beard) and were used by Goya as representatives of social decadence. Many of the proverbs can only be speculated about.