And Still They Don't Go! 18th-19th century

Curator: This is Francisco Goya’s print, titled "And Still They Don't Go!" The etching shows a group of figures struggling to move a massive, upright slab. Editor: It’s incredibly bleak. The monochromatic palette, the distorted bodies – it conveys a sense of futile, back-breaking labor. Curator: Absolutely. Goya was deeply critical of the social structures of his time. This piece reflects on the persistence of oppressive systems and the people trapped by them. The printmaking process itself, with its reliance on acids and physical manipulation, mirrors the struggle depicted. Editor: And the inscription, "And Still They Don't Go!", really underscores the futility. It makes you wonder who "they" are and what power keeps them entrenched. The whole artwork acts as a political commentary, doesn’t it? Curator: Indeed. It's a powerful statement about resistance, or perhaps the lack thereof, against the status quo. The Harvard Art Museums holds this as a key piece reflecting political and social commentary. Editor: It certainly gives you something to think about.