Plate 25 from "The Disasters of War" (Los Desastres de la Guerra): 'These too' (Tambien estos)
Original title: Plate 25 from "The Disasters of War" (Los Desastres de la Guerra): 'These too' (Tambien estos)
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many plates in Goya's series 'The Disasters of War' (Los Desastres de la Guerra), this etching from 1810 does not focus on combat but on the quiet lament of a group of people in a gloomy room. Figures lie on the ground while others mourn them. The image is a compelling testimony to the atrocities of the Spanish War of Independence.
Description
The layout resembles the interior of a treatment room or camp: several people stand or kneel around lifeless bodies on the floor. The clothing is plain but detailed, pointing to a pre-industrial era. Gloom and suffering dominate the view; emotions range from grief to despair. Light enters from the upper left, deepening shadows and depth, while the monochrome gray palette sustains the somber mood.
Context
Between 1810 and 1820, Goya created his series 'The Disasters of War' in response to the Napoleonic Wars in Spain. However, the etchings were not published until 1863, 35 years after the artist's death. The plate 'Auch diese' belongs to that group of works that show the aftermath of battles and the suffering of civilians. The series is considered one of the earliest forms of war reporting in art history.
Impact
A depressing, pitiable mood emanates from this print and directly addresses the viewer. The cramped composition and subdued light heighten the feeling of hopelessness. Because the figures are portrayed in such detail, the tragedy feels close and personal.
Technique
The work was executed as an etching with drypoint and burin, in the form of a proof impression. The delicate lines and shading reveal the typical characteristics of these techniques. The plate measures 16.3 × 23.3 cm, the sheet 21.9 × 32 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)