Sheriff / cat

See Woman / Snake

In this drawing we see the figure of a bailiff, dressed in the characteristic uniform of a three-cornered hat, long white wig, black suit, short cloak and sword, looking at himself in the mirror, in which is reflected a giant cat raised in an attitude of attacking the bailiff, who seems ready to scratch the animal with his right hand, which resembles the feline's claw. In Spanish literature it was common to compare bailiffs to cats, as Quevedo once did in his well-known Dreams, and Goya was undoubtedly aware of this. According to Folke Nordström, this scene corresponds to the representation of the choleric temperament.

The drawing, executed mainly in pen, is characterised by its masterly and modern abbreviated technique.