To Go Amongst Branches (To Talk Through One's Hat): Ridiculous Folly c. 19th century

Editor: This is Francisco Goya’s print, "To Go Amongst Branches (To Talk Through One's Hat): Ridiculous Folly." It appears to be an etching. The figures perched on the branch have an air of nervous anticipation. What do you see in the way Goya made this print? Curator: The etching process itself reveals a lot. Think about the acid, the metal plate, the repetitive labor involved. Goya's aquatint gives the print a tonal range, almost like a wash. It contrasts with the sharp lines of the figures and branches. How does the material process reflect on the depiction of folly? Editor: I see what you mean! The labor-intensive etching, juxtaposed with the subject of "ridiculous folly," seems to critique the social order. Curator: Exactly! The print’s materiality underscores the social context of labor and consumption. The means of production are as critical as the image itself. Food for thought. Editor: I never would have thought of that perspective. I will definitely look at prints differently.