And this too
Original title: Plate 45 from "The Disasters of War" (Los Desastres de la Guerra): 'And this too' (Y esto tambien)
kurzbeschreibung
Two women tend to a wounded man lying on the ground, one of them holding a child in her arms — this is the image of 'And That Too' (Y esto tambien) from Francisco de Goya's series 'The Disasters of War' (Los Desastres de la Guerra). The etching with aquatint, drypoint and burin was made in 1810 and published in 1863. This dark war scene, with other figures in the background, is one of the most haunting works in the series.
Description
Over a wounded or dying man stretched on the ground kneel two women; one carries a child on her arm. Behind them, further figures are hinted at, radiating distress and fear. Dark, muted tones dominate the image and deepen its oppressive mood. The arrangement of the figures stresses the urgency of the situation. Varied textures and shading testify to the mixed printmaking technique.
Context
Between 1810 and 1820 Goya created the series 'The Disasters of War' as a response to the Napoleonic wars in Spain and the subsequent restoration. The plates were not published until 1863, long after Goya's death, by the Royal Academy of San Fernando in Madrid. The etchings document the suffering of civilians and the atrocities of war. The title 'And That Too' alludes to the relentless repetition of war's consequences.
Impact
The dark palette and compositional density create an oppressive, pitiful mood. The helpless women and the wounded man evoke empathy and horror at the cruelty of war. The reduced but expressive visual language heightens the emotional impact of the print.
Technique
An etching with aquatint, drypoint and burin on paper. The combination of these techniques produces fine lines, soft tonal gradations and strong shadows. The plate measures 16.3 × 21.8 cm, the sheet 25 × 34.3 cm. Aquatint creates the dark, flat areas, while drypoint and burin provide detail and texture.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)