Hobgoblins 18th-19th century

Editor: So, this is Goya's "Hobgoblins," an eerie print at the Harvard Art Museums. It's...unsettling, frankly. The figures seem to revel in some dark ritual. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Absolutely unsettling. Goya, during times of political upheaval and social injustice, often used such grotesque imagery to critique the powerful. Consider, who do these 'hobgoblins' represent? Could they symbolize the Church, the aristocracy, or even the monarchy, indulging in corruption while the masses suffer? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way. It's like he's holding a mirror to society's darker aspects, using horror. Curator: Precisely. And this print serves as a potent reminder that art can be a powerful tool for social commentary. Editor: I learned a lot, thank you! Curator: My pleasure!