How They Pluck Her! 18th-19th century

Editor: This print, "How They Pluck Her!" by Francisco Goya, has such a nightmarish quality! I’m struck by its unsettling figures and the violence implied. What can you tell me about its context? Curator: Goya created this print as part of Los Caprichos, a series commenting on Spanish society. Consider the politics of imagery: Goya used satire to critique superstition, ignorance, and the abuse of power. How do you think this critique was received by the public? Editor: It must have been quite controversial! It seems to expose vulnerabilities within the society itself. Curator: Precisely! And it invites us to consider the artist’s role as a social commentator, even now. It makes you think about the institutions he was questioning. Editor: Absolutely. It’s fascinating to see how art can hold a mirror to society, even centuries later. Curator: Indeed. It reminds us that art is never created in a vacuum and it is shaped by cultural and political events.