What a Golden Beak! 1799

Editor: This etching, "What a Golden Beak!" by Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, presents a rather unsettling scene. The figures seem grotesque, almost like caricatures. What do you see in this piece that might illuminate Goya's intent? Curator: Considering Goya's context—the late 18th and early 19th centuries—and the sociopolitical turmoil of Spain, this image critiques power structures. The owl, often a symbol of wisdom, is perched above figures who seem to be in positions of authority, yet their faces are contorted, suggesting corruption or foolishness. Does the "golden beak" imply empty rhetoric? Editor: That’s fascinating! I hadn’t considered the owl as a critique of authority. Curator: Goya was deeply invested in exposing social inequalities and the abuse of power. What if this scene serves as a biting commentary on the state of affairs at the time? What did you take away from it? Editor: I see it now, the power of art as a form of resistance and social commentary. Thank you.