Renounce the Friend Who Covers You With His Wings and Bites You With His Beak: Flying Folly 18th-19th century

Curator: Here we have Francisco Goya’s print, "Renounce the Friend Who Covers You With His Wings and Bites You With His Beak: Flying Folly," currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The stark contrast immediately strikes me. It's an unsettling image, the dark void pierced by these almost grotesque figures. Curator: Goya’s use of aquatint and etching really amplifies the emotional weight. The imagery echoes the duplicity of power and friendship. Editor: Indeed, the winged figure, ostensibly a protector, becomes sinister. The chiaroscuro enhances the sense of unease, doesn't it? The textures, the darkness… Curator: Absolutely. It’s a visual representation of betrayal, a universal theme echoed across centuries and cultures. It taps into our primal fears. Editor: Seeing it broken down like this actually gives me a better grasp of Goya's genius. The visual language speaks volumes. Curator: Precisely! A deceptively simple image that holds profound truths about human nature. Editor: I agree. It’s unsettling but unforgettable.