The liveliness of the main little soldier, the martial air and the amusing, childish pride with which he faces the viewer make this one of Goya's greatest achievements among all his representations of childhood.

Childhood was one of the subjects that most interested Goya and in many of his scenes the children represent different social types: soldiers, majos, little aristocrats and others.

This is one of a series of cartoons (P779-P784) for tapestries to be hung in the rooms of the Prince and Princess of Asturias at the El Pardo Palace.