Goya, the unlucky observer

• Source: Global Times
• [14:12 June 07 2010]
• Comments

For those who survived the horrors of war, the suffering continued. The horrors of war destroyed daily life and livelihoods for many, businesses closed, homes were lost.

From 1808 to 1814 in Spain, hundreds of thousands of people fled from their homes, and cultural legacies and treasures were plundered. All of which, Goya depicts in gruesome detail.

Goya criticized the autocratic system set by Fernando VII after the war of independence.

Works in the section of "After the War" dramatize the criticism of the political system by using images of animals, such as bats, wolves and imaginary monsters.

In Goya's opinion, hope for society lay in the construction of a free constitution. He used images of women to represent hope in his works.

In an age without the camera, Goya's amazing prints are considered as realistic as photographs.

However, his techniques are indicative of modern day photography and often look like snapshots. Goya often gave short, concise titles to his prints such as Yo lo Vi (I saw) and Esto es Malo (This is bad), which add to the severity of his work.

The exhibition also includes award-winning war photos by war correspondents Robert Capa, David Seymour, Hans Namuth and Alfonso Sanchez, all of whom have contributed their own efforts to continuing Goya's endeavors as a chronicler of war.

Goya's remarkable achievements may seem gruesome and dark, but they have inspired generations of people to be dedicated artists and reminded us that, as the ancient Greek philosopher Plato said: "Only the dead have seen the end of war."