Hold On Until You Are Greased 18th-19th century

Editor: This etching by Francisco Goya, called "Hold On Until You Are Greased," shows two gaunt figures attending to a leaping goat. It feels… unsettling. What symbols do you see at play here? Curator: The imagery is loaded. Notice the skeletal figures, the bizarre ritual. In Goya’s time, such imagery often invoked anxieties surrounding superstition, witchcraft, and the darker aspects of human nature. Do you see how the goat, often a symbol of virility, is here part of a macabre scene? Editor: Yes, the juxtaposition is disturbing. It makes me wonder what Goya was trying to say about society. Curator: Indeed. He uses these powerful symbols to critique the irrational beliefs and social ills that plagued his era, leaving us to question what truly greases the wheels of society. Editor: That's thought-provoking. Thanks for shedding light on this.