Pretty Teacher! 18th-19th century

Curator: This etching is entitled "Pretty Teacher!" by Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes. Editor: It has an eerie, unsettling mood. The figures look almost like they're emerging from a nightmare. Curator: Absolutely. Goya masterfully uses the image of witches in flight, with the owl above as a symbol of nocturnal wisdom, or perhaps its perversion. Look how the figures seem burdened, a commentary on societal burdens. Editor: The "pretty teacher" is far from pretty. She seems to exploit the youthful figure she carries. This may serve as a critique of power dynamics and the exploitation of the vulnerable within societal structures. Curator: And note the ambiguity. Is it commentary or endorsement? Goya presents these figures in their power, prompting us to consider what it means to be outside societal norms. Editor: Right. It also brings to mind the precariousness of female power, always on the edge of transgression and punishment. Curator: Indeed. A disturbing glimpse into the darkness of the human condition. Editor: Definitely a reminder of how art can reflect and critique the darker aspects of humanity.