The Disasters of War Dover Fine Art History of Art

very nice book, contains repro prints of all 83 plates. large images. not a lot of context or analysis which is good in some ways-you make your own conclusions. only issue is some prints, ones where Goya went heavy on the etching/shading, came out too dark which can make seeing details more difficult. however, overall this is a very nice addition to your collection if youre a Goya fan. definitely recommend! Read more

While reading the amazing book "The Serial Killer Files", I discovered several mentions to some "famous series of engravings...with it's horrific images of rape, castration, and dismemberment..." Being a moral person, I had to see what all the hype was about! So I went a few weeks later to my college library and I looked at all the images...and I was shocked. To say that these images are unnerving and gruesome is the understatement of the century!! But there's something about them that makes them essential viewing for all...it's the most honest depiction of war I've ever seen in still image. Rather than try to justify the horror of his images with the idea of a greater good served or divine justice delivered, Goya simply portrays things how they were and lets us despair without any manipulation on his part. I'm sure others have gone through the series of plates with this book so I'll simply list a few of the plates that I think are the most affecting: "Sad Presentiments of what must come to pass", "This is what you were born for", "Why?", "What more can one do?", "This is worse", "Great deeds-against the dead!", "Unhappy Mother!", "The Consequences". Also, something that must be mentioned, aside from 2 or 3 prefaces, the only thing in this book is the 80 or so images themselves. While these images are of a war that happened hundreds of years ago in a foreign land, what they portray is something whose long claws cast their shadow across distance and time...the insanity and cruelty of man manifest in the horrors of war. For those who want an honest look into the results of war, you need look no further. But be forewarned that, in the words of Nietzsche, "...if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." Read more

A very useful book, the complete series is reproduced in actual size. The first 80 prints reproduced are fine, early impressions from the first published edition of 1863. My only complaint is that they are nowhere credited, so we do not know which museum collection was photographed. Given that the introduction is by Philip Hofer, formerly at the Harvard Library, it's natural to assume that these are Harvard's prints, or maybe the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. But they are not. Surprisingly, Harvard owns only a later, inferior copy of this series (third edition). And the MFA's copy is even earlier than the one reproduced (Harris III.1a instead of 1b, i.e., before the publishers edited some of the captions). My best guess is that this book principally reproduces a book that was issued in 1921 in Munich using the etchings in the Kupferstichkabinett in Berlin. "Les desastres de la guerra, von Goya: zweiundachtzig Faksimile-Wiedergaben in Kupfertiefdruck nach den Vorzugsdrucken des Kupferstichkabinetts in Berlin" was published in 1921, and therefore is in the public domain. Read more

Splendid rendition of the most powerful series of war pictures ever to be produced. Such a condemnation of war should make us all ashamed that we still indulge in such a barbarous practice. If Goya were a war artist in Syria and many other places today his message would be the same, as would his despair. Read more

When I look at these prints, I am reminded of: the "contractors" whose dismembered bodies were hung from the bridge in Fallujah; the lynching postcards that were commonly mailed around the USA only a few generations ago to celebrate the murder of black men; Auschwitz; All Quiet on the Western Front; Sherman's March; the Trojan War; you get the idea. Unfortunately these powerful images are and shall remain contemporary. There is some topical political comment here, but you're mostly looking at the human condition, and with a few changes of costume and props, these prints are applicable to almost any conflict, anywhere. Good for the kids' room. Read more

Having seen Goya at the Prado in Spain, I became enthralled with him and all he said in his great works of art. He really was able to depict the court personalities, and over time became very anti war. Then I heard he wrote an anti-war book. I expected some words of feelings but it's a tiny book containing all black and white lithographs. There are none of his words. I rather get a real book on Goya which discusses his paintings. Read more

As an artist and print maker I can admire Goya's mastery of the media.This book allows people who may not be familiar with Goya's etchings a sense of how powerful and timely these prints are even after 200 years. I was fortunate to see the complete series of these etchings last summer at Syracuse University.I'm sure Goya would see the brutality of war that America is currently engaged in. Read more

Good book, makes me wonder a lot of stuff. I am not much in to war stuff, but this was pretty interesting. If you don't like gory stuff don't get it. The drawings are really good too. It's a Twisted way of art. Read more