What is this Hubbub?, plate 65 from The Disasters of War Possibly 1815 - 1863

Editor: So, this is Francisco Goya's etching, "What is this Hubbub?", plate 65 from *The Disasters of War*. It's incredibly dark and disturbing. I'm immediately struck by the stark contrast between the composed soldier and the sheer panic of the women. What's your take on this piece? Curator: This work exists as part of a broader political statement, shaped by Goya's personal experiences of the Peninsular War, between France and Spain. Consider the title - “What is this hubbub?” The detached soldier seems almost oblivious to the suffering unfolding. Do you think Goya is pointing to the institutionalized nature of violence, where individual culpability is blurred by military structure? Editor: Definitely. It's like the horrors become normalized through that structure, almost administrative, while the human cost explodes in chaos and emotion. How do you think Goya's choices of etching contributes to the reading of the scene? Curator: Etching, as a medium, lends itself to both precise detail and a gritty, almost raw aesthetic. This allows him to capture both the crispness of the military uniform, symbolizing order, and the desperate textures of anguish. Furthermore, *The Disasters of War* was not published until 1863, decades after its creation, showing a lag of institutional backing that contributes to the artwork's own legacy as an outside perspective on the public issues of war. Editor: That makes the piece feel even more powerful, that delayed unveiling into the public sphere! It almost allowed the commentary to mature, reflecting perhaps, a broader societal disillusionment. Curator: Precisely. And it encourages us to reflect on the power dynamics embedded within historical narratives and public imagery. What are some implications of war imagery today? Editor: I hadn't thought of it quite like that before. I will reflect more on how images of violence are produced and disseminated, thank you! Curator: And I'll contemplate how the institutional apparatus impacts artistic intention, even across time.