Priya Kapoor
Francisco Goya's Disasters of War is a series of 82 prints created between 1810 and 1820, depicting the violent conflicts between Spain and Napoleon's occupying French forces in the early nineteenth century. Completed during and after the Peninsular War of 1808-1814, the prints offer a visual protest against war, critiquing post-war Spanish politics and the violent realities of war.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Creator | Francisco Goya |
| Date | 1810-1820 |
| Medium | Etching, drypoint, aquatint |
| Number of prints | 82 |
| Number of groups | 3 |
| First group | Incidents from the war and the consequences of the conflict on individual soldiers and civilians |
| Second group | Effects of the famine that hit Madrid in 1811-1812 |
| Third group | Disappointment of liberals with the restored Bourbon monarchy |
| Themes | Carnage, conflict, famine, heroism, retribution, torture, tragedy, suffering, atrocities, starvation, degradation, humiliation, violence, mutilated bodies, torture, captivity |
| Political context | War between Spain and France under Napoleon Bonaparte, also known as the Peninsular War (1808-1814) |
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What You'll Learn
Francisco Goya's anti-war statement
Francisco Goya's "The Disasters of War" is a series of 82 prints created between 1810 and 1820, though some sources state it was completed between 1813 and 1820. It is widely considered one of the boldest and most significant anti-war statements in art. The prints depict the horrors of the Peninsular War of 1808-1814 between Spain and Napoleon Bonaparte's French forces. Goya, who retained his position as the first court painter to the Spanish crown during the conflict, witnessed first-hand the violence and subjugation of his countrymen by the French.
Goya's anti-war statement is made through his unapologetic and realistic imagery, which includes mutilated bodies, tortured captives, violence against civilians, and rape. He also portrays the famine that plagued Spain following the end of French rule, with imagery of dead or dying bodies and people carrying corpses. The series is divided into three main sections: the effects of war, the Madrid famine of 1811-1812, and the disappointment at the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy.
Goya's use of etching, with its violently etched lines, captures the despair, isolation, and desperation of human beings trying to survive in the face of merciless violence. The absence of colour in the prints may indicate feelings of hopelessness and acceptance of our fallen nature.
Goya's work was not published until 1863, 35 years after his death, due to the politically-charged nature of the images and the fear of retribution from Ferdinand VII's regime. The series has had a profound influence on many notable thinkers, artists, and writers, including Luis Buñuel, Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, and Ernest Hemingway.
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The Spanish War and Peninsular War
Francisco Goya's series of 82 prints, titled 'The Disasters of War', was created between 1810 and 1820. The prints are considered a visual protest against the violent conflicts between Spain and Napoleon's occupying French forces in the early nineteenth century, including the Peninsular War of 1808-1814.
The Peninsular War was fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom against the invading forces of the First French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. It is considered to overlap with the Spanish War of Independence. The war began when the French and Spanish armies invaded and occupied Portugal in 1807 by transiting through Spain. However, it escalated in 1808 after Napoleonic France occupied Spain, which had been its ally. Napoleon Bonaparte forced the abdication of Ferdinand VII and his father, Charles IV, installing his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, on the Spanish throne. Most Spaniards rejected French rule and fought a bloody war to regain independence.
The British Army, aided by Spanish and Portuguese allies, played a crucial role in the Peninsular War. They successfully held off superior numbers of French troops and drove them out of Iberia. The British forces then carried the war into France, contributing significantly to Napoleon's first overthrow. The Peninsular War is also notable for the emergence of large-scale guerrilla warfare, with Spanish and Portuguese insurgents harassing French communications and supply lines through raids and ambushes.
Goya's 'Disasters of War' series captures the horrors of the Peninsular War, including the Madrid famine of 1811-1812 and the human suffering caused by merciless violence. The prints depict killings, rape, starvation, and the despair and desperation of civilians caught in the conflict. Goya's use of etchings, absent of colour, conveys a sense of hopelessness and the innate violence of mankind.
The series is considered one of the most significant anti-war works of art, serving as a powerful reminder of the atrocities inflicted on civilians during wartime.
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The French invasion of Spain
The French troops faced little resistance, apart from isolated actions in disconnected areas, including Zaragoza. The Spanish war of Independence was sparked by the execution of Spaniards suspected of participating in the revolt against the French invasion. This conflict lasted from 1808 to 1814 and became the deadliest event in Spanish modern history, resulting in the deaths of 215,000 to 375,000 Spaniards. During this period, the Spanish painter Francisco Goya retained his position as the first court painter to the Spanish crown, producing portraits of Spanish and French rulers. However, Goya's true sentiments lay with the Spanish liberals, and he witnessed first-hand the subjugation of his countrymen by French troops.
Goya's experiences during the French invasion inspired his famous series of prints, "The Disasters of War," which he created between 1810 and 1820. The series consists of 82 prints that serve as a visual protest against the violence and atrocities inflicted on Spanish civilians during the Peninsular War. Goya's works depict the horrors of war, including killings, rape, and starvation, capturing the despair, isolation, and desperation of those affected by the conflict. The stark black-and-white prints, with their violently etched lines, offer a glimpse into the darkness and squalor of war, devoid of any glorification or picturesque elements.
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The Madrid famine
The "Disasters of War" is a series of 82 prints created between 1810 and 1820 by the Spanish painter and printmaker Francisco Goya. The prints depict the horrors of the Peninsular War of 1808-1814 between Spain and France under Napoleon Bonaparte. The series is divided into three main sections: the effects of war, the Madrid famine of 1811-1812, and the disappointment at the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy.
The effects of the famine were made worse by the breakdown of social order and the lack of a central authority to coordinate relief efforts. The war had disrupted the normal functioning of society, and the Spanish government was unable to provide adequate assistance to the starving people of Madrid. The situation was further exacerbated by the presence of French troops, who often confiscated food and supplies for themselves, leaving even less for the Spanish civilians.
Goya's prints from this period capture the despair, isolation, and desperation of the people of Madrid during the famine. His works depict the carnage and conflict of war, as well as the human suffering that resulted from it. One of his prints, titled "They escape among the flames" (Plate 41), shows civilians fleeing from an explosion, a common sight during the Peninsular War. Another print, "There is no one to help them" (Plate 60), conveys the terror and hopelessness of those affected by the famine, who had little to no assistance during this dark time.
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The restoration of the Bourbon monarchy
Francisco Goya's series of 82 prints, titled "The Disasters of War", was completed between 1813 and 1820. The prints span Ferdinand VII's fall and return to power and consist of allegorical scenes critiquing post-war Spanish politics, including the Inquisition and judicial torture.
Goya's prints also explore the disappointment felt at the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy. The Bourbon Restoration was the period of French history following the fall of Napoleon in 1814 and 1815. The restoration lasted until the July Revolution of 1830, during the reigns of Louis XVIII (1814–1815, 1815–1824) and his brother, Charles X (1824–1830).
The restoration of the monarchy was marked by conflicts between reactionary Ultra-royalists, who wanted to restore the pre-1789 system of absolute monarchy, and liberals, who wanted to strengthen constitutional monarchy. The new regime was a constitutional monarchy, with limits on the king's power. This was a significant departure from the absolutist Ancien Régime. The period was characterized by a sharp conservative reaction, civil unrest, and the reestablishment of the Catholic Church as a major power in French politics.
The Ultras were ultra-royalists associated with the future King Charles X, who pursued a more conservative form of governance than his brother, Louis XVIII. They were known for their violent tactics, and about 200-300 people were killed while thousands fled during the Second White Terror. The Ultras sought revenge against those who had aided Napoleon's return and dismissed around 70,000 government officials.
Goya's "Disasters of War" series offers a critique of the violence and political repression of the time, capturing the despair, isolation, and desperation of those impacted by the conflicts.
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Frequently asked questions
The Disaster of War painting series follows the period of the Peninsular War of 1808-1814 between Spain and France under Napoleon Bonaparte.
The Disaster of War series was painted by Francisco Goya between 1810 and 1820.
The series explores themes such as carnage, conflict, famine, heroism, retribution, torture, tragedy, and suffering. Goya's work is often viewed as a visual protest against the violent conflicts between Spain and Napoleon's occupying French forces.
