This is Hardly Less 18th-19th century

Curator: Goya's "This is Hardly Less," residing at the Harvard Art Museums, presents a haunting scene etched with stark lines. Editor: It strikes me as a tableau of quiet desperation, the way the figures huddle, burdened by what they carry. Curator: Indeed, the printmaking process itself—the biting of acid into metal—mirrors the biting commentary on societal burdens Goya conveys. Editor: Absolutely, it's as if the weight of the world has materialized onto these bowed backs, the figures almost fading into the background. Curator: Consider the materiality too—the cheap papers used for such prints allowed for wider dissemination of critical narratives during tumultuous times. Editor: I find myself wondering about their stories, their lives before this grim procession; what does each object signifies. Curator: A potent reminder that art can be a mirror reflecting not just beauty but also the hard realities of life and labor. Editor: Yes, and how it can whisper so loudly even through the dimness of etched lines.