‘You’ll See Later’; a man drinking, a woman trying to stop him c. 1816 - 1820

Curator: Here we have a drawing by Francisco Goya, dating from around 1816 to 1820. The inscription at the bottom reads, "You'll See Later"… and we indeed see a narrative playing out before our eyes. Editor: The scene feels frantic and charged, doesn't it? The starkness of the pencil strokes adds to that raw energy. A man, caught mid-drink, struggles against the woman trying to wrestle the jug from him. Curator: Precisely. The political and social upheavals of the time—Spain was in turmoil—certainly impacted Goya's perspective. What he presents isn't just a simple genre scene; it is imbued with potential consequences of indulging one's vices. Editor: It strikes me as a powerful indictment of addiction. The woman’s desperation is palpable; her gesture is both loving and forceful. I am wondering if we can view this domestic drama through the lens of gender and class? Curator: Yes, I find myself wondering what this intimate moment suggests about larger societal structures, especially considering the restrictive roles assigned to women at the time. Goya does show women's struggle within marriage frequently. Editor: Absolutely. I mean, who holds power, and who is subjected? Her frantic grip versus his refusal to yield – it speaks volumes beyond just a man having a drink. What implications this holds, right? Goya does ask powerful questions, questions about social ills. Curator: True. Goya offers a complex view here, reflecting the anxieties of post-war Spain under a restored monarchy, one that restricted personal freedoms. What does public restraint reflect in people's private lives? Editor: Ultimately, for me, the emotional core resonates most. That raw depiction of struggle against something larger than oneself; Goya really understood human frailty and rendered it with unflinching honesty. It forces the viewer to reflect on human cost. Curator: Indeed. Goya captures this battle beautifully in just a few strokes, but it really carries much larger and complex ideas on morality, agency, and the burdens we carry as individuals and societies.