Plate 48 from 'The Disasters of War' (Los Desastres de la Guerra): 'Cruel tale of woe!' (Cruel Lástima!)
Original title: Plate 48 from "The Disasters of War" (Los Desastres de la Guerra): 'Cruel tale of woe!' (Cruel Lástima!)
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many sheets from Goya's 'Los Desastres de la Guerra', which show the chaos of battle or anonymous victims, this 48th print zeroes in on a single, immediate act of violence: a kneeling figure bends over someone lying on the ground and stabs him with a knife. The artist made the etching in 1811–12, but it was not published until 1863. Executed in etching with burnished lavis, burin, and burnisher, the plate measures 15 × 20.3 cm, the sheet 25.1 × 34.3 cm.
Description
A kneeling figure leans over a person stretched out on the ground, who appears dead or gravely wounded; the hand holding the knife is aimed at him. Dark, almost black areas dominate the background, reinforcing the oppressive mood. Predominantly grey tones, broken only sparsely by light, make the contours stand out sharply. The image is typical of Goya's unflinching look at violence and suffering.
Context
Goya made this print during the Spanish War of Independence (1808–1814), when he recorded the horrors of war. The series 'Los Desastres de la Guerra' did not appear until 1863, long after his death. He saw the etchings as a personal indictment of the brutality of war, regardless of political allegiance.
Impact
The immediate menace of the scene draws the viewer in. Dark tonal values and sparing light deepen the sense of hopelessness and terror. The visual language feels timeless and shocks through its direct portrayal of human cruelty.
Technique
For this print Goya used etching combined with burnished lavis (a type of aquatint), burin, and burnisher. This mixture allowed fine gradations of grey and precise rendering of details. The plate measures 15 × 20.3 cm, the sheet 25.1 × 34.3 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)