Nohubo remedio. 1796 - 1797

This is Francisco de Goya’s etching, “Nohubo remedio,” which translates to “There was no remedy.” Created during a period of immense social and political upheaval in Spain, Goya's series "The Disasters of War" unflinchingly portrays human suffering. In this print, Goya critiques the Spanish Inquisition, an institution that historically persecuted individuals for perceived religious transgressions. The figure in the *sambenito*, the penitential garment and *coroza* or pointed hat, shames the victim as he sits backwards on a donkey. Goya amplifies the emotional and physical dimensions of the scene, focusing on the faces in the crowd, where the taunts and jeers of the crowd become a palpable presence. He uses the grotesque to challenge the authority of the church and state. Goya's work, as seen here, often serves as a mirror reflecting both the darkness of his time and the timeless realities of human cruelty.