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Goya was always interested in madness and the insane and painted many scenes depicting the mentally ill over his lifetime. In this painting Which has often been compared with Hogarths bedlam Scene from the Rakes Progress, although Goya's painting is considered to be far more harrowing than that of Hogarths. The lighting used for this painting only serves to emphasise the hopelessness of the inmates by illuminating their madness. Some of whom think they are royalty and others indian braves. Goya paints the figures with compassion and sympathy conveying his pity for these poor creatures which the rest of society shuns.