One Can't Look, plate 26 from The Disasters of War Possibly 1810 - 1863

Francisco Goya etched "One Can't Look" as plate 26 of "The Disasters of War," a harrowing depiction of the Peninsular War. Here, the central motif is the huddled group of figures, their bodies intertwined in despair, a universal symbol of human suffering and a plea for empathy. The recurring symbol of figures shielding their eyes, unable to look, reminds us of the blinding horror of war. This gesture echoes through time, from ancient depictions of mourning to modern photography, capturing moments of unspeakable tragedy. Consider the Niobid Painter's vase paintings, where similar gestures convey grief, yet here, the figures are not mythical beings but ordinary people, their suffering raw and immediate. This symbol has been passed down through history, shifting in meaning and intensifying its expression, revealing the cultural and emotional power embedded in visual symbols. Goya masterfully engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level by portraying intense emotional states. This image emphasizes the non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols and how they resurface and evolve in different contexts.