Artwork
The Horrors of War: What Courage!
The Horrors of War: What Courage! is a print by the Romanticist artist Francisco Goya. It dates from 1815 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1815, Francisco de Goya’s print titled *The Horrors of War: What Courage!* is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work presents a chaotic battlefield scene rendered in stark chiaroscuro, emphasizing the disorder and loss that accompany armed conflict.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre stands a woman in a long dress, clutching a flag or cloth, her posture calm amid the wreckage. Nearby lie a cannon, scattered sacks, a fallen soldier and a dead horse, suggesting the aftermath of combat. The juxtaposition of her serenity with the surrounding devastation invites reflection on the human capacity for composure—or denial—in the face of war’s brutality.
Technique & Style
The image is executed as an etching, employing rough, expressive lines and deep shadows that heighten the sense of turmoil. Goya’s handling of the medium conveys a dramatic, almost theatrical atmosphere, aligning the work with the emotive intensity characteristic of early 19th‑century Romantic visual language.
History & Provenance
The print was produced shortly after the Peninsular War, a period that profoundly influenced Goya’s later output. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the 20th century, where it remains on view as an example of the artist’s engagement with contemporary conflict.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; Spanish: ; 30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker.
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