There is No One to Help Them, plate 60 from The Disasters of War Possibly 1812 - 1863

Francisco de Goya created this etching, plate 60 from *The Disasters of War*, using etching and aquatint. At its heart, the image evokes a timeless scene of despair. The central motif here is the cluster of figures: some dead or dying on the ground, others embracing in a pose that speaks volumes of grief. Consider the gesture of embrace; it transcends mere physical support. This posture echoes through art history, from ancient Roman sarcophagi depicting mourning families, to the pietà scenes of the Renaissance, each bearing witness to humanity's eternal confrontation with loss. There is something primal in the composition, something that tugs at the subconscious. The desolation is not merely depicted, it is communicated as a collective memory of suffering, a dark inheritance passed down through generations. It reminds us that while contexts shift, the core human experiences of grief and helplessness remain stubbornly resonant.