Chinchillas 18th-19th century

Editor: This etching is titled "Chinchillas" by Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes me is the figures' strange headgear and the implied violence. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's crucial to consider the etching process itself. Goya’s manipulation of the plate – the labor involved in creating those stark contrasts – tells a story of production. The figures in elaborate costumes, perhaps commentary on social hierarchy, are products of a very specific material and political context. Editor: So, the inequality depicted isn't just thematic, but also embedded in the art's making? Curator: Precisely. The choice of etching, a relatively accessible printmaking method, challenges the exclusivity often associated with "high art," while subtly addressing themes of labor and consumption that are central to the understanding of power dynamics within artistic production. Editor: That's fascinating, I never thought about the material context of social commentary. Curator: Considering the material process definitely adds another layer.