The Disasters of War (Los Desastres de la Guerra): Plate 58: 'It's no use crying out' (No hay que dar voces)
Original title: Plate 58 from "The Disasters of War" (Los Desastres de la Guerra): 'It's no use crying out' (No hay que dar voces)
kurzbeschreibung
Plate 58 from Goya's etching series 'The Disasters of War' was made in 1811–12 and published in 1863. It shows a crowd gathered in a desolate, dark place around a figure lying on the ground. The print was executed as an etching with burnished aquatint, burin, and burnisher.
Description
In the foreground a person lies on the ground, evidently wounded or dying. Beside them someone kneels and holds up a cross, suggesting a religious act, while a third person stands looking down at the fallen figure. Further back, two more figures stand, gazing in different directions. Muted grays dominate the image, and the light remains diffuse, deepening the somber mood. Linework and shading are clearly visible, bringing out the figures and the landscape.
Context
Goya created the series 'Los Desastres de la Guerra' between 1810 and 1820 in response to the Napoleonic occupation of Spain and the ensuing war of independence. The plates were not published until 1863, after Goya's death, by the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. Plate 58 belongs to a group of etchings dealing with the war's effects on the civilian population. By then Goya was already deaf and living in seclusion, which shaped his pessimistic view of the world.
Impact
An oppressive, hopeless atmosphere emanates from this print, making the horror of war immediately palpable. The restrained tones and statuary arrangement convey deep despair that leaves the viewer thoughtful. The moment feels still and without escape, like mourning without any heroic elevation.
Technique
Etching, aquatint, burin, and burnisher were used, producing fine tonal gradations and a soft, painterly effect. The aquatint creates the gray areas, while the burin ensures precise contours and details. Goya's approach emphasizes texture and the gloomy mood through graded hatching and tonal values.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)