The Same Elsewhere, plate 23 from The Disasters of War Possibly 1810 - 1863

Francisco Goya created this etching, titled ‘The Same Elsewhere,’ as part of his ‘Disasters of War’ series. These prints offer a stark commentary on the atrocities of conflict and the often-blurred lines between victim and perpetrator. Goya was a court painter in Spain during a period of immense political upheaval, including the Napoleonic Wars. This context deeply influenced his work. In ‘The Same Elsewhere’ we see lifeless bodies sprawled across a landscape, the aftermath of violence rendered with brutal honesty. The image suggests a critique of war's dehumanizing effects. The inscription points to the universality of such scenes, implying that these disasters are not unique to Spain. Historians use a wide array of documents to understand such images, from military records to personal letters. Goya's work reminds us that art can serve as a powerful witness, challenging official narratives and forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths about our own society.