Poor folly

This scene takes place under an architectural element, perhaps an atrium or portico of a church, in which six old women are sheltered, dressed in broad robes and wearing headdresses that cover their heads. One of them, as if lost in thought, wears spectacles. Beside her, another, bent over, leans on a cane, a touching representation of a helpless old woman. An attractive young girl with a complex attitude rushes towards them, her arms outstretched. An enigmatic character that makes this picture incomprehensible. Two heads protrude from her chest. One looks back with nostalgia, the other, with anguish, addresses the old women. The mystery is accentuated by the two figures in the background who seem to be chasing the young woman. One of them has a calm and tranquil demeanour, while the other has an unhinged expression, with a disfigured face and bristling hair. These latter figures are technically represented in a different way from the rest, as they are executed using very clear, light lines. Possibly they remain in the memory or in the past of the protagonist, which is why one of her heads is turned in remembrance of them. In the same image, reality and evocation are mixed.

The title of the print may be related to its meaning, as we may be looking at a group of beggars, towards whom the woman runs to take refuge in a sacred place. On the other hand, they may not be beggars, but rather matchmakers who are trying to convince the girl to become a prostitute. In fact, the way in which they are depicted closely resembles that of the celestinas who abound in the Caprices (Caprice 20. They are already plucked). Likewise, the girl is dressed in the same way as the prostitutes in the same series, insinuating her feminine curves. The head facing the procuresses appears to have more sensual features than the other, as well as having slightly tousled hair. The double head would graphically describe the psychological process of the girl in her decision whether or not to become a prostitute. The two characters in the background would try to dissuade her. In this way, she would look at the life she is leaving behind and the new life that awaits her in her new career.

There are two types of aquatint, a finer, lighter one for the sky and a darker one for the interior of the gate. There are burin retouches on the figures in the main group and on the hair of the two-headed woman.

The preparatory drawing for the present print is preserved, entitled Poor folly