Beautiful advice

In the centre of the scene, a seated woman wears a mantilla covering her head and holds a half-open fan in her hand. Next to her, but somewhat further back, is an older woman looking at her attentively. In the background of the engraving we can see some shadows that suggest the presence of other figures that have not yet been fully outlined.

In this engraving, Goya makes significant use of aquatint to create the darker background in the upper part in the centre, as well as the ground. He reserves a lighter area on the young woman's chest and on the clothes of the woman behind her.

In Ayala's manuscript this engraving is explained as follows: "Wretched is he who carries her", while in the one in the Prado Museum it is noted that "the advice is worthy of the one who gives it. The worst thing is that the young lady is going to follow them to the letter. Woe betide anyone who carries her! In the manuscript of the National Library it is commented that "mothers are usually procuresses of their daughters, taking them on successful outings and gatherings".

In this print Goya openly criticises prostitution, to which the young women were often led on the advice of people in their own environment, who gave them Beautiful advice. Prostitution was also a matter of concern in enlightened circles since, following the closure of brothels in the 17th century due to the diseases that arrived from America, prostitutes exercised their profession in the street, without any kind of supervision or control. This is one of the reasons that increased insecurity in many of the streets of the capital.

It is possible that the Aragonese painter was familiar with engravings such as William Hogarth's Arrival in London, in which a young woman who has just arrived in the big city is greeted by an old woman. She looks at her and caresses her face; she is probably a procuress who will introduce her to the world of prostitution.