Two of a Kind 18th-19th century

Curator: Francisco Goya's print, "Two of a Kind," now in the Harvard Art Museums, depicts a rather intriguing trio. What strikes you first about it? Editor: Well, it's moody, isn't it? All browns and grays, and the expressions on their faces—especially that older woman lurking in the background—it’s like peering into a whispered secret. Curator: It's part of Goya's "Los Caprichos" series, a collection of etchings that critique Spanish society and the follies of the time. Goya uses aquatint to create those tonal effects, giving the print its dramatic atmosphere. Editor: Follies indeed! You've got the dandyish gentleman, the flashy woman, and someone who looks like their conspirator. It whispers of corruption and decadence, but there is also a certain vulnerability in their eyes that makes you wonder. Curator: That’s Goya for you—never quite letting anyone off the hook, but always suggesting something more complex beneath the surface. He was quite the social commentator! Editor: Absolutely, and it makes you consider how societal critiques in art have always resonated, even centuries later.