He Gets Something Out of It 18th-19th century

Editor: This is "He Gets Something Out of It" by Francisco Goya. It looks like an etching, and I'm struck by the stark contrast between light and shadow. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, if we consider Goya's likely use of aquatint, we see how his manipulation of the plate's surface allowed him to achieve these tones. But, importantly, what "does he get out of it?" Consider the labor and materials involved in both the depicted act and Goya's artistic process. How might those connect? Editor: So, the suffering in the image might relate to the artist's labor? Curator: Precisely! The printmaking itself is a kind of exploitation, reproducing the scene for wider consumption. It makes you think about the whole system of production and reception, doesn’t it? Editor: It really does! I hadn't considered the social implications of the printmaking process itself.