God Forgive Her: It's Her Own Mother. 1799

Editor: This is an etching by Francisco Goya entitled "God Forgive Her: It's Her Own Mother." The stark contrast makes the image feel unsettling. What do you see in Goya's composition? Curator: The etching's power lies in its deployment of aquatint. Notice how Goya uses it to create a tonal range, from the velvety blacks of the figures' clothing to the subtle gradations of the background, heightening the dramatic intensity. What do you make of the figure's gaze? Editor: Her eyes are rather vacant. Perhaps this is commentary on social standing? Curator: Indeed. The visual language—the figure's pose, the etching style, the aquatint—establishes a compelling, if disquieting, aesthetic experience. Editor: Thank you. The attention to visual components definitely changed my perspective.