Heal Them and On to the Next 18th-19th century

Editor: This etching is called "Heal Them and On to the Next" by Francisco Goya. It seems to depict injured people, maybe soldiers, being tended to. What do you see in this piece beyond the immediate suffering? Curator: This work, like much of Goya's "Disasters of War" series, presents a stark indictment of conflict. Consider the title: "Heal them and on to the next." It speaks volumes about the dehumanization inherent in warfare. Goya uses the aquatint technique to create a haunting atmosphere, emphasizing the cyclical nature of violence and the indifference to individual pain. How might this image resonate with contemporary issues of war and its aftermath? Editor: I see now how Goya critiques the systemic disregard for human life in war. It's a bleak but powerful statement. Curator: Exactly. And it forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about power, exploitation, and the enduring cost of conflict. It challenges the narratives we tell ourselves about progress and civilization.