Plate 50 from 'The Disasters of War' (Los Desastres de la Guerra): 'Unhappy mother!' (Madre Infeliz!)
Original title: Plate 50 from "The Disasters of War" (Los Desastres de la Guerra): 'Unhappy mother!' (Madre Infeliz!)
kurzbeschreibung
Created in 1811–12 but not published until 1863, this print by Francisco de Goya y Lucientes belongs to the series 'The Disasters of War'. It captures a violent episode: two men are locked in a struggle on the ground while a woman stands nearby with her arms crossed. Goya's series documents the atrocities of the Spanish War of Independence.
Description
Three figures emerge against a dark, almost black landscape. Two men grapple fiercely, one wielding an object that appears to strike the other's head. The woman beside them, arms folded, looks on with concern. The arrangement is strikingly uneven, heightening the unease. The bodies are drawn with precision, while the tones remain mostly dark and subdued.
Context
Between 1810 and 1820, Goya responded to the Spanish War of Independence against Napoleon's troops with 'Los Desastres de la Guerra'. The etchings were only published in 1863, 35 years after Goya's death, by the Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid. This sheet, plate 50, is part of a group that addresses the suffering of civilians, especially women and children.
Impact
A somber, violent mood seizes the viewer and pulls them directly into the action. Dark tones and the restless layout create a strong emotional impact that makes the brutality of war palpable.
Technique
The print was executed as an etching with burnished aquatint and drypoint on paper. Aquatint allows for fine tonal gradations that deepen the dark mood. The plate measures 15.5 × 20.5 cm, the sheet 25.1 × 34.3 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)