Which of Them is the More Overcome? 18th-19th century

Curator: Goya's print, titled "Which of Them is the More Overcome?", presents a scene rife with ambiguity and social commentary. Editor: It's immediately striking - the contrast between the woman's upright posture and the man's supplicating pose, the discarded puppets... it speaks to a power dynamic, but one that feels performative. Curator: Absolutely. Goya was deeply critical of the societal norms of his time, especially the roles imposed on women and the superficiality of courtship rituals. This work could be seen as critiquing the constraints placed on female agency. Editor: Or perhaps highlighting the manipulative strategies available to them within those constraints. The discarded dolls could symbolize lost innocence or a calculated shedding of childish things to gain social power. Curator: It raises questions about performance, gender, and the complexities of social maneuvering, still resonating with discourses around power and representation today. Editor: It leaves you pondering who truly holds the upper hand in this staged drama, which is, I think, the point.