Dream of consummated witches (7th dream)

Preparatory drawing for Caprice 69. Blow, the initial idea already appeared in the drawing Aunt Chorriones lights the bonfire (B. 57).

The scene is an example, as Manuela Mena describes, of how to dominate and bend children to the witch's will. In this case the exact purpose is to stoke the fire, while the rest of the wizards and witches admire their master's achievements. The witch's exploits are evident in the final edition stamped through her successful expression as she boasts of having achieved her goal. In the sky another flying witch gazes with maternal tenderness at the two infants she carries with her, while another spreads her powerful owl wings and looks up at the sky with gratitude.

This is one of the scenes in which Goya used the witch and her demonic acts as a metaphor for man's evil. It is one of the most sophisticated and technically complex drawings, with highly detailed anatomy and grotesque faces.

It is also related to the preparatory drawing Dream 6. Proclamation of witches forbidding those under thirty years of age, no matter how meritorious their flying may be.

The drawing shows the imprint of the foil print left by the pressure of the press during the intaglio process on the copper plate measuring 214 x 150 mm, as well as vertical stipples measuring 25-26 mm.