Spanish Entertainment from the 'Bulls of Bordeaux'
Original title: Spanish Entertainment from the 'Bulls of Bordeaux'
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many contemporary bullfight depictions that fixate on the climax of the fight, Goya's 1825 lithograph presents an arena filled with simultaneous actions: several bulls in different postures, assistants, and spectators. The sheet, titled Spanish Entertainment from the 'Bulls of Bordeaux', belongs to a four-part series that Francisco Goya y Lucientes created while in exile.
Description
Across the surface, several bulls are spread out: one lies on the ground, others stand or move. Their bodies appear powerful, the horns clearly defined. Behind the animals, spectators sit on benches or stand; their postures range from tense attention to calm watching. In the foreground, people turn toward one another, some holding cloths or equipment. Tones of black and gray dominate the entire image.
Context
In 1825, while exiled in Bordeaux, Goya made this lithograph after leaving Spain. It is one of the four sheets known as the Bulls of Bordeaux, all of which deal with bullfighting. During those years, Goya increasingly experimented with printmaking techniques and set painting aside more and more.
Impact
The precise drawing of the bulls and the expressive faces of the spectators create an atmosphere of tension. The layout directs the eye to the animals' movements and the audience's reactions, giving an impression of immediacy.
Technique
For this sheet, Goya chose lithography, in which a fatty crayon is drawn on a stone and then printed. This allowed him fine gradations and contrasts in gray and black. The image measures 30.3 × 41.5 cm, the sheet 42.2 × 53 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)