He deserved it, plate 29 from The Disasters of War Possibly 1814 - 1863

Francisco Goya created this etching, titled 'He deserved it', as part of his series 'The Disasters of War', a harrowing response to the Peninsular War in the early 19th century. Goya, living in Spain during this turbulent time, witnessed firsthand the atrocities committed by both the French and Spanish forces. 'He deserved it' depicts a brutal scene of retribution, reflecting the pervasive sense of vengeance and moral decay that war engenders. The print does not shy away from showing the raw and visceral consequences of conflict, challenging any romanticized notions of war. Goya once said, "I have seen things that make one's blood boil." This emotional intensity is palpable in his work, where the personal and political intersect. Through this image, Goya invites us to confront the uncomfortable truths about the justifications and the human cost of war, leaving us to reflect on the cyclical nature of violence.