And Still They Don't Go! 18th-19th century

Curator: This striking print by Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes is titled "And Still They Don't Go!". Editor: It's a deeply unsettling image, with a dark mood and those figures struggling under immense weight. It looks like something out of a nightmare. Curator: Goya's printmaking process itself is fascinating. The aquatint technique allows for these subtle gradations of tone, creating such depth and drama. Consider the implications of mass production here, making this social critique widely accessible. Editor: The figures huddle together, and the block they carry has such symbolic weight, doesn't it? It's not just physical labor; it's the burden of history, oppression, perhaps even guilt. Curator: Perhaps, but it also speaks to the exploitation inherent in labor systems. Who benefits from their toil? What are the material conditions that force them into such a state? Editor: It's potent stuff! Looking closely reveals complex layers of symbolism; a potent expression of resilience and despair intertwined. Curator: Indeed, and thinking about the distribution of these prints, the socio-political impact must have been significant. Editor: It certainly leaves a mark. I think it's a chilling reminder of the burdens people carry.