# God save us from such a bitter fate; a bandit threatening a woman and a child with a knife, page 41 from the "Black Border Album" (E)

**Francisco Goya** (Spanish, 1746–1828)  
ca. 1816–20  
Brush, carbon black gray ink and was, scraper  
Sheet: 10 1/2 × 7 3/8 in. (26.6 × 18.7 cm)

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 35.103.50. [The museum's record](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/334050).

## About this work

A bandit raises a knife over a terrified woman and her child, and Goya’s caption pleads, “God save us from such a bitter fate.” The drawing comes from the so-called Black Border Album, one of the private albums Goya filled late in life, named for the black ink borders framing each page. Made for himself rather than for sale, these brush drawings in grey and black washes record violence, folly and misery with startling freedom; a scraper was used to lift highlights from the wash.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

Francisco Goya drew this in about 1816–20, aged about 65. It is now at The Met in New York.

### [Francisco Goya](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/francisco-goya)

Spanish, 1746–1828; born in Fuendetodos; died in Bordeaux

Goya began with tapestry designs for the royal factory in Madrid and rose to become first painter to the Spanish court under Charles IV. After a serious illness left him deaf in the 1790s, his work grew darker and more personal. His etched series, Los Caprichos and The Disasters of War, satirise folly and record the atrocities of the Peninsular War, and he painted the Black Paintings directly on the walls of his own house. He spent his last years in exile in Bordeaux.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

## Facts

- Type: Drawings
- The artist was about 65
- Real size: about 10 × 7½ in (27 × 19 cm). The 8 × 10 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 19th century
- Subjects: Children, Men, Women
- Colour: white
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/991.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/991/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/god-save-us-from-such-a-bitter-fate-a-bandit-threatening-a-w-met-334050).