Goya's Disasters of War records with extraordinary realism the horrors of the Peninsular War, in which the Spanish rebelled against Napoleon's imposition of his brother Joseph as King in place of the Bourbon dynasty. The Spaniards conducted a heroic 'guerilla' war against the occupying forces which lasted from 1808 until 1814 when British forces under the Duke of Wellington succeeded in expelling the French.

In these images, Goya's perspective is small-scale, focusing strongly on the suffering and heroism of individuals. His prints are among the most powerful images of war ever created. Goya's images of death are close -up and dramatic. Within generalised settings we see the Spaniards as protagonists rather than pawns; Goya's focus is stagy and human - not political.

The 80 prints of the Disasters were made in the years 1810-20. 56 of the total were made during the actual conflict, and record scenes much as if they are eye-witness accounts. Goya decided against publication of the series, probably because the political situation remained oppressive after the conflict. An identifiable late group of plates are commonly referred to as the 'Caprichos enfaticos.' They are characterised by a pessimistic allegorical tone familiar from the earlier Caprichos series of 1799. The plates remained in Madrid when Goya left in 1824, and were acquired by the Academia. In 1863 the plates were used for the printing of a first edition.

Translation: 'On account of a knife'

Etching and aquatint

Translation: 'This is worse'

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Escapan entre las llamas (Disasters of War plate 41)

Translation: 'They run off through the flames'

Etching and aquatint