Love and Death c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have Goya’s print, "Love and Death." It’s a stark image, but the etching itself seems delicate. I’m struck by how the medium contrasts with the subject matter. What's your perspective on this piece? Curator: The etching process, using acid to bite into the metal plate, mirrors the corrosive forces at play in the depicted scene. Consider the social context: Goya was working during a time of upheaval. The materials used, from the paper to the ink, speak to the economics of printmaking and its accessibility as a medium for disseminating subversive ideas. Editor: So, the choice of etching itself contributes to the work's meaning? Curator: Precisely. It's not just about the image, but the means of its production and its potential for wider consumption and impact. Seeing it this way, does it shift your understanding? Editor: Definitely, it makes me think about the choices behind the creation, and how the materials communicate just as much as the figures.