And This Too 18th-19th century

Curator: Look at this print titled "And This Too" by Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My initial impression is one of quiet desperation, a heavy weight communicated through stark contrasts. Curator: Goya's use of aquatint creates these moody, atmospheric skies, mirroring the turmoil. The composition, with the figures moving right-to-left, suggests a journey, a struggle. Editor: And the bent figures—they seem to carry their burdens, the etching capturing a collective grief. Even the scurrying dog adds to the sense of urgency and flight. Curator: It is one of his "Disasters of War" series, remember. Goya reflects on the futility and suffering of conflict, etching not grand battles, but the impact on everyday people, like these refugees. Editor: The inscription "Y esto tambien..."— "And this too..."— reinforces the unending nature of suffering, it’s a grim commentary. It leaves you pondering our own response to such scenes. Curator: Indeed. Goya forces us to confront the brutal realities often glossed over in heroic narratives. Editor: Ultimately, it’s a stark reminder that the echoes of conflict reverberate long after the battles cease.