Poor Little Ones! 18th-19th century

Editor: This is Francisco Goya’s print, "Poor Little Ones!", from the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like an etching. I find the figures huddled together convey a sense of despair and vulnerability. What social commentary do you think Goya was making here? Curator: Goya lived through immense social upheaval. This print resonates with his broader commentary on poverty, disenfranchisement, and the devastating consequences of conflict, particularly within marginalized communities. Notice how the figures are anonymous, almost dehumanized, their individual identities lost to their shared plight. Editor: So, it is a statement about a shared experience, rather than individual hardship? Curator: Precisely. Consider the power structures at play. Who benefits when populations are rendered vulnerable? How does Goya’s work challenge those systems? Editor: It's definitely given me a lot to think about, especially in relation to current events. Curator: Indeed. Goya's work continues to be relevant as a reminder of the human cost of inequality and injustice.