Will No One Unbind Us? 18th-19th century

Editor: This is "Will No One Unbind Us?" by Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, an etching. It depicts two figures being menaced by a large owl. It feels like a commentary on oppression, but what do you see in it? Curator: Goya's work often critiques the social and political structures of his time. This image, with the owl looming over the figures, speaks to the pervasive, often unseen forces that bind us. The figures' struggle begs the question: what societal constraints are they fighting against? Editor: So, the owl represents a kind of institutional power? Curator: Precisely. Consider the historical context – Goya lived through turbulent times. What forms of oppression might this image reflect, and how might those forms of oppression resonate today? Editor: It makes you think about the different ways people are still bound by societal expectations. Curator: Exactly, art allows us to engage in ongoing dialogues regarding identity, power, and liberation.