Harvest of the Dead 18th-19th century

Curator: This is "Harvest of the Dead" by Francisco Goya, currently housed in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's stark. The printmaking technique lends a harsh, unsettling quality to the scene of piled bodies. Curator: Goya was deeply affected by the Peninsular War. We see here his response to the sociopolitical climate of early 19th-century Spain. Editor: Look at how the materials contribute—the ink itself feels like a stain, amplifying the gruesomeness. The artist had to press the plate, so that his own body participated in the making of this horror. Curator: Precisely, it's a condemnation of conflict, echoing across historical events. Editor: Yes, and it's a testament to how art can use material processes to evoke visceral reactions. It is truly haunting.