The worst is to beg - Francisco Goya

A stark etching from Goya's The Disasters of War series, depicting the grim reality of famine and human suffering during the Peninsular War.

The worst is to beg (Lo peor es pedir) is plate 57 from The Disasters of War, a series of prints produced by Francisco Goya between 1810 and 1820. This collection documents the brutality of the Peninsular War and the subsequent famine in Madrid. Goya employs etching and aquatint to create a stark, monochromatic scene that captures the grim reality of human suffering.

The composition presents a group of figures in a state of physical and moral decay. A central, skeletal figure sits among others who appear to be in the final stages of starvation. To the left, a woman stands with her back to the viewer, her posture suggesting a sense of resignation or detachment from the scene. The ground is littered with bodies, and the overall atmosphere is one of hopelessness. Goya uses high-contrast shadows and expressive, jagged lines to convey the desperation of the subjects.

Unlike traditional war art that focuses on heroism or military strategy, this work examines the civilian experience. Goya strips away any romanticised notions of conflict, choosing instead to focus on the degradation of the human condition. The title itself serves as a commentary on the indignity of poverty and the failure of social structures during times of crisis. The print is a direct observation of the consequences of war, rendered with a technical precision that allows the viewer to confront the harsh details of the scene. It remains a significant example of Goya's ability to use the print medium to communicate social critique and personal observation.