It's Hot! 1799

Editor: This print, "It's Hot!" by Goya, has such a grotesque quality. What strikes me is the group's exaggerated expressions. How do you interpret this work? Curator: The print reflects Goya’s engagement with the sociopolitical landscape of his time. The figures' suffering could be read as a critique of the established power structures, even the Church, during the Spanish Restoration. Are they literally hot, or is it the heat of political conflict? Editor: That's interesting! The title made me think of physical discomfort, but your interpretation opens it up to so much more. Curator: Goya often used satire to address injustice. Consider the visual language: are the figures positioned to evoke empathy, or are they presented as caricatures of the elite? Editor: I see what you mean. I'm starting to see how Goya uses their expressions to convey the heat of their political environment. Thanks for sharing your perspective. Curator: My pleasure. Analyzing art within its historical and social context allows us to see its multifaceted layers of meaning.