They eat a lot
1824 - 1828. Pencil on grey laid paper.Not on display
Several drawings in these sketchbooks predominantly feature clergymen, all of which have a satirical tone. In this case, a friar laboriously prepares to relieve himself, consequentially, as Goya´s title suggest, because of his gluttony. In contradiction to the private nature of this deed, an observant figure can be seen in the background. His smile contrasts with the grave effort made by the protagonist, who has had to roll up his habit to be seated and avoid soiling.
Sketchbooks G and H were produced in Bordeaux, probably simultaneously or very close to one another in time, as evidenced by their formal, stylistic and technical similarity. In them, Goya gave free rein to his capacity for invention based on specific events he had experienced, such as the popular characters seen on the streets of Paris and Bordeaux, and to his pure imagination. Goya depicts the most significant issues presented over the course of his career, but in this case the changes the tone from satirical to grotesque: the falsehood of humanity, inequality, poverty, irrationality and the violence of individuals and of society. Most of the drawings in Sketchbook G include handwritten titles. Goya introduced the use of crayon in these sketchbooks. This occurs in coincidence to his interest in lithography and his practice of that procedure in Bordeaux.
Matilla Rodríguez, José Manuel, Ligereza y atrevimiento. Dibujos de Goya, Santander, Fundación Botín, 2017, p.129 n.77; 198-200 n.77
