Contra El Bien General is an etching and burnisher on paper created by Spanish artist Francisco Goya between 1810-1815. It belongs to the series “Los Desastres de la Guerra” (The Disasters of War) which depicts scenes from the Peninsular War fought between Spain and France. The plate mark size is 17.50 x 22.00 cm, and it is part of the Rosenwald Collection with Object Number: 1943.3.4716.sss.
As one of Goya’s many prints within the series, Contra El Bien General depicts a scene against the common good, showcasing his viewpoint on circumventions that occur within capitalism and abuses of public domains by governments in power. The print offers a critical view of war, specifically highlighting its negative effects on civilians.
As an accomplished artist and printmaker, Goya was known for using his art as a platform to voice his opinions about social injustices happening around him at that time. His work contributed significantly to art movements such as Romanticism with his use of dark themes and political undertones within his pieces.
Prints from this series have been sold at auction in the past at prices up to -1 EUR or more based on their rarity and historical significance in creating visual representations of war through artforms like printmaking. Overall, Contra El Bien General is not only significant for its artistic merit but also its documentation of historical events during a time when these events were unfolding right before Goya’s eyes.
