They Spruce Themselves Up 18th-19th century

Curator: Here we have Francisco Goya's print, "They Spruce Themselves Up," held in the Harvard Art Museums. What do you make of it? Editor: Oh, it's unsettling, like a dark fairytale! All those grotesque figures, preening. Gives me the shivers. Curator: The title refers to vanity, but Goya's use of aquatint and etching suggests a deeper critique of social facades and ritualized behaviors. Note the textures, the manipulation of the plate. Editor: Absolutely! It’s all in the shadows, isn't it? The way he uses light and darkness... almost mocking the idea of beauty itself. Makes you think about the labor hidden behind appearances. Curator: It's a potent reminder that what is presented is often far removed from the process and materials that create it. Editor: It leaves you with a lingering, uncomfortable feeling, like a whispered secret you wish you hadn't heard.