Ya es hora. 1796 - 1797

"Ya es hora" which translates to "It is time," is an etching by Francisco Goya, likely made between 1810 and 1820. It’s a part of Goya’s series ‘The Disasters of War’ which offers a stark commentary on conflict and its impact on humanity. Goya experienced the horrors of war first-hand, living through Spain’s War of Independence. This print reflects his profound disillusionment. The figures, possibly clergy, are caught in a moment of wild abandon, their faces contorted in screams. The print invites us to consider who these figures are and what exactly the time has come for. Is this a moment of reckoning, a call to action, or a descent into chaos? Goya challenges the traditional glorification of war. He suggests that conflict unleashes the darkest aspects of human nature. He refuses to sanitize or ennoble violence, instead showing its raw, emotional toll. "Ya es hora" urges us to confront uncomfortable truths about power, morality, and the human condition during times of war.