Porque esconderlos (Why hide them) (1796-1797)

Francisco de Goya, a profound observer of the human condition, reflects a candid and often disquieting narrative through his artwork "Porque esconderlos" which translates to "Why Hide Them." This etching, completed between 1796 and 1797, captures an intense and somber scene that invites the audience to ponder the deeper meanings behind human interactions and societal norms.The image portends a disturbing normativity wherein four figures share the scene, the central figure being an older man looking overwhelmed or distressed, tightly grasping something close to his chest. The other figures, characterized by almost grotesquely exaggerated smiles, loom over him, their expressions mismatching the palpable tension embodied by the central figure. Their unsettling grins, contrasted starkly with the central old man’s pained demeanor, stir an emotional apprehension regarding the nature of what is being hidden and why.The title "Why Hide Them" suggests a critique of societal impulses to conceal what is deemed unacceptable or unsettling. Goya, through somber ink strokes, challenges viewers to face the hidden or suppressed aspects of human nature. This powerful piece is part of a broader commentary on the human psyche and society's penchant for masking truths.As one gazes upon Goya’s work, the emotional intensity and symbolic depth beckon a reflection on what realities we, as a society or as individuals, choose to conceal out of fear, shame, or conformity.