Hush
Ca. 1797. Red chalk on dark yellow laid paper. Not on displayPreparatory drawing for Capricho 28 (G02116) .The title, which is taken from the Caprichos, refers to the word used to impose silence, and in this case to the corrupt habits of aristocratic women who made use of old procuresses as intermediaries. The latter, apparently busy saying their rosaries, were witnesses to and covered up these elegant women’s affairs. Goya’s commentary in the document in the Prado refers to the discretion that these old women needed to possess: “Excellent mother to trust with a confidential errand.”