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Bury Them and Keep Quiet (Enterrar y Callar)

1810-1814, published 1863
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (Spanish, 1746–1828) Printed by Calcografía Nacional, Madrid Published by Real Academia de Nobles Artes de San Fernando
Mass casualties along with the rampant spread of disease led to difficulties in disposing of dead bodies during the French occupation of Spain. Here a man and woman stand in for viewers as witnesses to the devastation, covering their noses against the stench of a field of naked and decaying corpses. This visceral reaction exemplifies the multisensory experience of war Goya conveys in Los Desastres. The nude bodies cannot be identified as either Spanish or French, underscoring the universality of loss in war.

Object Details

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