Bitter Presence 18th-19th century

Editor: This is "Bitter Presence" by Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The etching feels intensely dark and chaotic. What can you tell me about its making? Curator: Look at the aquatint, how it evokes atmosphere and a sense of entrapment. Goya's technique here is pivotal. What does this etching, a print, allow in terms of production and dissemination of such a politically charged image? Editor: So, the printmaking process enabled a wider audience to access this critique, spreading its message further. Curator: Precisely. Goya’s labor resulted in a multiple, a form of visual protest readily consumable. A stark contrast to paintings for the elite. Editor: It's fascinating how the material process amplifies the work's impact. Curator: Indeed, Goya transformed craft into a powerful tool for social commentary.