Hold On Until You Are Greased 18th-19th century

Editor: This etching is titled "Hold On Until You Are Greased" by Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes. The figures look grotesque, and there's a disturbing energy. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The figures are undeniably disturbing, yes, but look closer at the composition. The elevated dog-like figure, the seated character stirring a bowl, they all speak to a ritualistic scene. Consider the dog’s historical links to loyalty, often perverted here to signal blind faith. What kind of feeling does that evoke? Editor: It feels like a mocking of traditions, a critique of something sacred made absurd. Curator: Precisely. Goya often used animalistic imagery to reveal the base instincts lurking beneath societal veneers. By layering cultural symbols, he reveals uncomfortable truths about power and belief. Editor: That’s fascinating; I never would have noticed the dog's symbolic role without you pointing it out. Curator: Symbolism is powerful, and its impact ripples through art history. Understanding it allows us to decode the deepest layers of an artist’s message.