Where There's A Will There's A Way: A Way of Flying 18th-19th century

Editor: This print, "Where There's A Will There's A Way: A Way of Flying" by Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, features figures soaring—or plummeting—through a dark sky. There’s a sort of manic energy, don’t you think? What do you see in this piece? Curator: Absolutely manic! Goya, bless his heart, was wrestling with the Enlightenment’s lofty promises—reason, progress. See those winged figures? They’re Icarus, but with a dash of Spanish satire. Are they flying high, or just crashing spectacularly? Editor: So, it's a commentary on ambition, maybe? Curator: Precisely! And the human condition itself. We strive, we dream, sometimes we soar, sometimes we belly-flop. Goya’s reminding us that even with the best wings, a little humility goes a long way. Editor: That’s… wonderfully bleak. I’ll never look at ambition the same way. Curator: Isn't it fantastic? Art that makes you question everything.