No se convienen (They Do Not Agree)

The scene captures a moment of collective upheaval, with the rider’s authoritative gesture juxtaposed against a crowd locked in conflict. The composition emphasizes the breakdown of order, hinting at the broader horrors of war and the human cost of discord, as individuals are reduced to a mass of indistinct, struggling forms.

Goya employed a combination of etching, drypoint, engraving, and burnishing on wove paper. The drypoint scratches produce fine, luminous lines that catch light, while the deeper etched lines create strong shadows. This interplay of line and tone heightens the visual tension, reinforcing the tumultuous atmosphere of the print.

Although the print bears the date 1863, it was produced posthumously, as Goya died in 1828. The work was later acquired by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, where it forms part of the museum’s collection of 19th‑century Spanish prints.

Created during a period when Goya’s later prints explored the brutality of conflict, the image reflects the artist’s preoccupation with the moral and social consequences of war. Its stark visual language aligns with Goya’s broader oeuvre, which often used graphic detail to critique violence and authority.