Plate 16 of "La Tauromaquia": The same man throws a bull in the ring at Madrid
Original title: Plate 16 of "La Tauromaquia": The same man throws a bull in the ring at Madrid
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike most sheets in the Tauromaquia, which show the fight with banderillas or lances, plate 16 of 1816 presents a man bringing a bull to the ground by sheer force in the arena of Madrid. For this motif Francisco de Goya y Lucientes combined etching, burnished aquatint, drypoint, and burin.
Description
In the foreground a figure kneels in traditional Spanish dress, gripping by the neck a bull that is just starting to move. Behind them, two more figures in hats watch the action. Black and white governs the image; the background stays dark and bare, pushing the bodies forward. The layout feels orderly, the figures clearly outlined, the light even, with no harsh shadows or highlights.
Context
Goya made this plate in 1816 as part of the series La Tauromaquia, which emerged after the Spanish War of Independence. The series takes up different aspects of bullfighting and draws on Goya's engagement with Spanish popular culture. The series first appeared in Madrid in 1816.
Impact
The spare imagery and gloomy surroundings focus the eye on the event. A realistic approach, tilted slightly toward the dramatic, gives the motif a direct, insistent presence.
Technique
The plate was executed as a combination of etching, burnished aquatint, drypoint, and burin. With this method Goya achieved fine lines and graduated tonal values that give the image depth and structure.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)