What Courage!, plate seven from The Disasters of War
1810/12, published 1863
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes Spanish, 1746-1828
Spain
Francisco de Goya responded to the Peninsular War (1808–11) by creating over 80 etchings critiquing the cruelty and senseless violence that accompanies war. In this print, he depicted a historical event: Augustina of Aragon heroically defending Saragossa, taking over the cannon of her fallen comrades. Because she had already become a woman of legendary status when this print was made, Goya did not show Augustina’s face. Due to the oppressive policies of King Ferdinand VII, these prints were not published until 1863.
Etching, aquatint, drypoint, burin, and burnishing on ivory wove paper with gilt edges