Why Hide the Purses? 18th-19th century

Curator: Goya's etching, "Why Hide the Purses?" features a rather distressed figure clutching two bulging sacks, surrounded by smirking onlookers. What’s your immediate take? Editor: There's something deeply unsettling in the contrast between the old man's anxiety and the others' almost gleeful expressions. It evokes a sense of societal power dynamics and exploitation. Curator: Absolutely. It's from "Los Caprichos," a series where Goya skewers the hypocrisy and corruption he saw around him. The title itself, "Why Hide the Purses?", is dripping with irony, don't you think? Editor: Definitely. It speaks volumes about the social inequalities of the time, reflecting how wealth was hoarded while others suffered. Those pursuers seem to know how the world works. Curator: Precisely. Goya's world feels very familiar. It’s darkly funny and bitterly poignant. Editor: It's a stark reminder that some struggles, unfortunately, remain timeless.