Plate 19 of "La Tauromaquia": Another madness of his in the same ring
Original title: Plate 19 of "La Tauromaquia": Another madness of his in the same ring
kurzbeschreibung
Plate 19 of Goya's etching series 'La Tauromaquia', made in 1816, captures one of the strangest moments in the entire set: a bull has climbed onto a table, and a figure stands on the same surface in a dynamic pose. The scene is rendered in etching, with additions of aquatint, drypoint and burin.
Description
A bull, poised to attack, occupies a table; above it, a human figure seems to dance. Around them, onlookers watch the performance. The setting is an enclosed space fitted out as an arena. Black and white dominate, as is typical of etching. Light falls evenly, with no strong shadows or highlights.
Context
The etching appeared in 1816 as part of 'La Tauromaquia', Goya's exploration of Spanish bullfighting. He worked on the series between 1815 and 1816, and it was first published in 1816 with 33 plates covering various aspects and historical moments of the bullring. This particular plate shows an improvised stunt of the kind mentioned in contemporary reports of daring bullfighters.
Impact
The odd pairing—animal and human on a table—creates a tension that borders on the surreal. The restrained color and carefully drawn lines give the print a quiet yet insistent mood that draws the viewer straight into the arena.
Technique
Several printmaking techniques combine here: etching, burnished aquatint, drypoint and burin. Subtle tonal gradations come from the aquatint, while drypoint and burin define crisp lines and details. The plate measures 24.2 × 35 cm; the sheet was printed on paper of 30.3 × 43.6 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)