Atropos (The Fates) 1823

Goya, with oil on wall transferred to canvas, gives us "Atropos" – the Fates. These aren't the idealized figures of antiquity but ghoulish apparitions, burdened with grim symbolism. Note Atropos, shears in hand, severing the thread of life. This motif echoes across time, from classical urns depicting life’s journey to medieval tapestries of death. Consider how the scissors, a simple tool, becomes a terrifying emblem of finality. The mirror, held by another figure, suggests reflection or perhaps the illusion of destiny, echoing Narcissus gazing into his pool, blind to his fate. Such symbols are not static. They evolve, reflecting our deepest fears and hopes, resurfacing in various guises, each time colored by the anxieties of the age. They serve as a potent reminder of our shared human condition.