The Bullfight, plates 1-33 (La Tauromaquia)
Original title: The Bullfight, plates 1-33 (La Tauromaquia); First edition, 1816
kurzbeschreibung
In 1816 Goya created his etching series 'La Tauromaquia' with 33 plates depicting scenes of Spanish bullfighting. The plate shown here features a bull charging toward a table in an arena, on which a torero acts in a lively pose. The printmaking techniques used were drypoint, aquatint, burin, and burnishing.
Description
A bull rushes forward, its target a table on which a person stands in an acrobatic or combative pose. Behind this action, several spectators are distributed, watching the event in various postures. The layout stretches broadly, emphasizing the sense of movement. Kept in black and white, the figures stand out through strong shadows and contrasts. The rendering appears realistic and highlights details and motion, achieved through precise lines and hatching.
Context
Between 1814 and 1816, in the period after the Spanish War of Independence, Goya turned increasingly to Spanish society. During these years, the Tauromaquia was created, first published in 1816 and regarded as a high point of his printmaking. The motifs draw on actual bullfights and historical events, some of which Goya had witnessed himself.
Impact
The plate generates gripping tension and movement that immediately draws the viewer into the action. Strong contrasts of light and dark, along with the elongated layout, produce a dramatic, almost stage-like effect.
Technique
The plate was executed in a mixture of drypoint, aquatint, burin, and burnishing, allowing for nuanced gradations of light and shadow. Aquatint provides soft tonal areas, while drypoint and burin ensure clear lines and details. This approach was characteristic of Goya's printmaking during those years.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)