Neither More Nor Less Possibly 1797 - 1798

Editor: This is Francisco Goya's print "Neither More Nor Less." It presents a rather bizarre scene of a donkey sitting for a portrait being painted by a monkey. What’s your take on this peculiar image? Curator: Goya often used animals to satirize Spanish society. Consider the role of the Academy; was Goya suggesting that artistic institutions were elevating the unqualified, that donkeys were being treated as esteemed subjects, painted by equally inept monkeys? Editor: So, it's a critique of the art world itself, the politics of who gets recognized? Curator: Precisely. The caption underscores the point – it implies a lack of critical discernment. What do you think about how the monarchy or social hierarchies might have responded to this? Editor: It's incredibly bold, potentially subversive. I hadn't considered how directly it challenges power structures. Curator: Goya’s commentary, cloaked in satire, speaks volumes about his perception of his era's social and artistic climate. A powerful, political statement.