Plate 8 from "The Disasters of War" (Los Desastres de la Guerra): 'It always happens' (Siempre sucede)
Original title: Plate 8 from "The Disasters of War" (Los Desastres de la Guerra): 'It always happens' (Siempre sucede)
kurzbeschreibung
This print from Francisco de Goya's series 'The Disasters of War' stands apart from other treatments of the subject by its immediate intertwining of horseman and figures on the ground. The etching with drypoint was made in 1810 but not published until 1863. It captures a scene in which a panicked rider and fallen people convey the brutality and chaos of the Spanish War of Independence.
Description
Unlike many war images that show clear battle lines, this motif presents a dense throng: on the ground, people writhe in desperate poses, while a man on horseback is depicted in panicked movement, as if trying to break away from the animal. The layout is dynamic, with expressive lines driving the unrest forward. Rendered in grays, the monochrome print creates a somber mood; diffuse light heightens the oppressive feel.
Context
Goya responded with this series, created between 1810 and 1820, to the horrors of the Spanish War of Independence against Napoleon. The prints appeared only in 1863, long after Goya's death, published by the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. The title 'Siempre sucede' (It always happens) points to the repeatability of violence. The series is counted among the earliest examples of modern war reportage in art.
Impact
The expressive poses and tight arrangement convey an immediate sense of chaos and despair. Monochrome and diffuse light intensify the oppressive effect; without pathos, the viewer is confronted with the reality of war. Through the dynamic linework and insistent figures, the print remains in the memory.
Technique
The print was executed in etching with additional drypoint work, which allows fine lines and soft shading. The plate measures 17.5 × 22 cm, the sheet format 25.2 × 34.2 cm. This technique permits a precise rendering of expressive details and nuanced gray values.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)