Plate 32 from "La Tauromaquia": Two teams of picadors thrown one after the other by a single bull
Original title: Plate 32 from "La Tauromaquia": Two teams of picadors thrown one after the other by a single bull
kurzbeschreibung
Plate 32 of Francisco de Goya's etching series 'La Tauromaquia' (1816) presents two groups of picadors, each in turn thrown to the ground by a single bull. The print combines etching, burnished aquatint, drypoint and burin.
Description
A rearing bull dominates the foreground, charging at two bands of picadors. Several riders have already fallen and lie on the ground, while others try to defend themselves or flee. A bullring with wooden walls forms the backdrop. The image stays monochrome in varying shades of grey; light falls from the front, stressing shadows and contours.
Context
The series 'La Tauromaquia' was made between 1815 and 1816 and published in 1816. Its etchings record various bullfighting scenes, from antiquity to contemporary events. Plate 32 describes a particularly dangerous situation in which a single bull overcomes several picadors.
Impact
Immediate threat and dynamic movement pull the viewer into the action. Strong contrasts of light and dark and expressive linework heighten the drama of the scene.
Technique
Executed in etching with burnished aquatint, drypoint and burin. The interplay of these techniques allows fine gradations of grey and precise details that capture both the texture of the bull's hide and the movements of the figures.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)