Rightly or wrongly, plate two from The Disasters of War Possibly 1812 - 1863

"Rightly or wrongly," plate two from The Disasters of War, was made by Francisco de Goya using etching, aquatint, drypoint, and burnishing. These techniques, rooted in the craft of printmaking, involve manipulating a metal plate to hold ink, then transferring the image onto paper. Look closely, and you will notice how Goya uses the contrasting tones achieved through aquatint to create a sense of depth and drama. The drypoint adds a velvety texture, especially visible in the dark shadows, enhancing the emotional intensity of the scene. These prints were not fine art in the traditional sense, intended for wealthy patrons. Instead, Goya aimed to document and critique the brutality of war, making them a powerful form of social commentary. The labor-intensive process of printmaking allowed for wider distribution, bringing these scenes of conflict to a broader audience. This challenges the distinction between art and craft, and highlights the role of making in conveying meaning and sparking social change.