The unlucky death of Pepe Illo in the ring at Madrid
Original title: Plate 33 from "La Tauromaquia": The unlucky death of Pepe Illo in the ring at Madrid
kurzbeschreibung
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes made this thirty-third print in his etching series 'La Tauromaquia' in 1816. It records how the bullfighter Pepe Illo lost his life in the bullring of Madrid. The series consists of 33 prints that deal with bullfighting in Spain. This sheet belongs to that set and combines documentary precision with artistic heightening.
Description
Pepe Illo lies stretched out in the foreground, overwhelmed by the bull; a second man tries to fend off the animal. Behind these main figures, other people appear, intervening in the action. The arrangement is restless and directs the eye entirely to the dramatic event. Gray tones dominate the sheet, as is typical of etching and aquatint. Soft, diffuse light brings out the contours of human and beast and deepens the shadowed areas.
Context
Goya created the 'Tauromaquia' between 1814 and 1816, during a period of political uncertainty after the Spanish War of Independence. Pepe Illo, a well-known bullfighter, died in 1801 in Madrid during a bullfight. The series was first published in 1816. It addresses various aspects of bullfighting, from historical subjects to contemporary events.
Impact
The death of Pepe Illo strikes the viewer suddenly and violently, because the raw violence of the moment is not glossed over. Realistic details and an effect-driven lighting scheme heighten the emotional tension. The print does not leave the viewer at a distance but pulls them into the action.
Technique
For this print, Goya used etching, aquatint, drypoint, and burin. These techniques allowed fine lines and nuanced tonal values that support the dramatic effect. The paper measures 30.8 × 43.8 cm, the plate 24.6 × 35 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)