Plate 18 from "The Disasters of War" (Los Desastres de la Guerra): Bury them and keep quiet (Enterrar y callar)
Original title: Plate18 from "The Disasters of War" (Los Desastres de la Guerra): Bury them and keep quiet (Enterrar y callar)
kurzbeschreibung
This etching by Francisco de Goya y Lucientes, made between 1810 and 1820 and first published in 1863, gathers a group of motionless, clearly lifeless bodies. An armed figure stands over them. The print belongs to the series 'The Disasters of War' and deals with the atrocities of war.
Description
Several figures lie piled on top of one another in the foreground, appearing to be corpses. A single armed man stands above them, dominating the image. The background remains bare and dark, heightening the somber mood. The bodies are rendered realistically, with human suffering and violence at the center. The monochrome, dark tonality reinforces the oppressive atmosphere.
Context
Goya responded to the Napoleonic Wars in Spain (1808–1814) and their aftermath with the series 'Disasters of War'. The plates were made between 1810 and 1820 but only appeared posthumously in 1863. They are among Goya's late etchings and form a comprehensive critical contribution on war atrocities and human brutality.
Impact
The dark tonality and the unflinching portrayal of violence and death create an intense, stifling mood. Viewers are confronted with the cruelty of war without any embellishment. The simplicity of the composition amplifies the emotional impact of the subject.
Technique
Etched, then worked with burnished lavis, drypoint, and burin, the plate allows fine transitions between light and shadow and precise textures. This combination produced nuanced tonal values. The paper size of 25.2 × 34.2 cm matches the standard format of the series.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)