Ni mas ni menos. 1796 - 1797

Curator: This etching, titled "Ni mas ni menos.", meaning "Neither More Nor Less," was created by Francisco de Goya around 1797. Editor: What a bizarre scene! My initial impression is of organized chaos, a satire conveyed through these unlikely animal figures. The donkey sitting for its portrait…it's wonderfully absurd. Curator: Goya, throughout his series "Los Caprichos," used animal allegories to critique Spanish society, often targeting the aristocracy and clergy. The donkey, in particular, was a symbol for ignorance and stubbornness. Here, he's elevated, literally, to the level of portraiture. Editor: So the monkey diligently painting, that’s society enabling this delusion, isn’t it? Like art critics of the day, maybe, perpetuating inflated reputations... I feel the dark humor. You almost want to laugh and then, oof, the truth stings. Curator: Exactly. Consider also that this print dates to the late 1790s, a time of immense social and political upheaval. Goya's work reflects anxieties about the old order clinging to power, even as its foundations crumble. Editor: It's still so relevant! The materials, the muted tones of the etching… they give it an almost dreamlike quality, despite the sharp satire. But that inscription beneath it: "Neither More Nor Less," I feel as if Goya challenges me. “Don't overthink this! Or, maybe, do, and see how close I came to truth.” Curator: I agree; this piece operates on multiple levels. On the surface, it's a caricature. However, deeper reflection can elicit more unsettling truths regarding political institutions, social status, or individual accountability. Editor: Absolutely. Art history allows us to view how an artwork represents particular historical realities, yet as artists and creators, it gives insight into the soul itself, even a rather dark and conflicted soul. What do we make of a world that celebrates asses? Goya invites us to ask these uneasy questions again. Curator: Indeed, "Ni mas ni menos" captures this cultural tension in such starkly ironic form, and its legacy remains disturbingly familiar in our world, two centuries later. Editor: You said it, what begins as whimsical critique evolves into grim social reckoning and…now I wonder who paints my portrait. Thanks, Goya, that's terrifying, yet brilliant food for thought.