This is Worse, plate 37 from The Disasters of War Possibly 1812 - 1863

Goya created this etching, ‘This is Worse’, as part of his series 'The Disasters of War', using etching and aquatint. Here, we see a man brutally displayed, perched on a severed tree trunk, a stark image of suffering reminiscent of religious martyrdom. The tree, once a symbol of life, is now a macabre stage. Note how this echoes the motif of the cross in Christian iconography, where the instrument of torture becomes a symbol of sacrifice and redemption. Throughout history, we see echoes of this visual language. The flayed skin of Marsyas in ancient sculpture, or the countless depictions of Christ's crucifixion, all tap into our collective memory of pain and suffering. The image becomes a powerful force, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The echoes of past sufferings resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.