Nadie Se Conoce (Nobody Knows Himself) by Francisco Goya (Interpretation and Analysis)

Nadie Se Conoce
Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

As I have written many times, Spanish artist Francisco Goya was one of the most forward looking and inspired artists of his time. His work was extraordinary in terms of style and content, and his impact on art is immeasurable. However, it is his Caprichos series that ranks as one of his most astonishing artistic accomplishments.

Goya published Los Caprichos—a series of etchings that depict the social ills of contemporary Spanish culture, in 1799—at the dawn of a new century that would change Spain forever. Nadie Se Conoce (which translates to Nobody Knows Himself) is the sixth print in the series.

The piece contains multiple layers of meaning. On the surface, it is a carnival scene with disguised men and women cavorting in the streets. Traditionally, carnival was a time when people could let loose and disregard traditional social roles and limitations. Thus, the festival functions as a liminal space in culture, acting as a release valve for societal pressures while also introducing the constraint of masks and disguise. Carnival’s strange role in Spanish society fascinated Goya, and he saw it as a larger metaphor that could be applied to other aspects of culture.

Here, Goya cleverly applies the idea of carnival to identity. The disguises and costumes of carnival anonymize the participants to others and, as Goya implies, to themselves. The Nadie Se Conoce refers to the lack of self-knowledge and general superficiality that Goya observed in contemporary culture. The central figure in the print is a young woman in a white dress and a mask. A gallant young man in an elaborate suit approaches the woman with a smile while she draws back coyly. In the background, several men in monstrous costumes leer at the couples.

There is a malevolent energy in the piece that is consistent with the title. Everyone in the print is behaving falsely, ulterior motives lurking right under the surface. The piece is deeply critical of these superficial relationships. However, in deceiving others, Goya suggests, these people are really deceiving themselves.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.