The Healthy and the Sick, plate 57 from The Disasters of War Possibly 1812 - 1863

Francisco Goya etched "The Healthy and the Sick" as part of his "Disasters of War" series, a harrowing depiction of the Peninsular War's impact on the Spanish people. Here, we see figures ravaged by illness, their bodies emaciated. Note the protective stance of the healthier figures tending to the afflicted. This echoes the ancient motif of "pietà," the Virgin Mary cradling the dead Christ. Yet, instead of religious salvation, Goya presents a scene of earthly suffering. The "pietà" is transformed into a symbol of human compassion in the face of unrelenting horror. Consider the cyclical nature of such imagery: from sacred depictions of mourning to secular expressions of grief during wartime. The repetition of this motif across centuries reveals our collective, subconscious understanding of suffering and empathy. It serves as a potent reminder of war's devastating effects, engaging us on a deeply emotional level.