And there's nothing to be done - plate 15

• Plate 15


  And There's Nothing To Be Done
• Light and tone

  -          Light clothing seems to emit light

  -          Light is used to focus on the suffering figures, those who are causing the suffering and the guns

  -          Contrast to dark background and light figures – and blank patches
• Composition

  -          What is happening in the foreground is echoes in the background – the extent of death

  -          All line and mark making is pointing towards the middle and central figure

  -          Multi-figure composition

  -          Cropped composition

  -          Firm central emphasis

  -          Balanced composition – lines horizontal but also central element of the poles
• Title

  -          Hopelessness tone

  -          Maybe Goya or all of us cant do anything

  -          Possibly sinister

  -          Maybe talking about the context more broadly – no act can save
• Link to 'May 3rd, 1808'

  -          Illude to ‘May 3th, 1808’ – the rifles on the side

  -          The rifles are pointing towards the central figure in light

  -          Immanent death and structure
• Central figure

  -          Illudes to christ

  -          Mix of heroism and defeat

  -          Blind folded

  -          Totally devoid of a hero
• dead man in the foreground

  -          Blood and brain matter spilled from head – alive only second ago

  -          Hopelessness and fatalism
• Detailed comparison to 'The Third of May, 1808'

  -          Both central figure that illudes to Christ – divine light

  . the painting is clearer and brighter

  . alter Christus (another Christ)

  -          Focus within a larger group of figures

  -          Painting – bolder and more defiant figure

  . etching – bound and slumped and blind folded

  . painting – challenging death with powerful stare

  -          Difficult to make a connection with the viewer because of the blind fold

  -          both use of depicting blood and brain matter

  -          painting – final act of bravery and heroism
• Mark making

  -          Etching and dry point – allowing Goya to form areas of darkness and light

  -          Distinct lines – add to drama
• Scale

  -          These are works on an intimate scale – 14 x 16.7 cm
• Scene

  -          Countryside slaughter scene – outside and hills - vast space behind but we're focussed on the dead men - sense of possibility but also seclusion
• The different people

  -          Men being slaughtered are Spanish – French men killing – they have hats