Plate 28 of "La Tauromaquia": The forceful Rendon stabs a bull with the pique, from which pass he died in the ring at Madrid
Original title: Plate 28 of "La Tauromaquia": The forceful Rendon stabs a bull with the pique, from which pass he died in the ring at Madrid
kurzbeschreibung
Plate 28 from Goya's 1816 etching series 'La Tauromaquia' shows the bullfighter Rendon driving his lance into a bull. The image is rendered as an etching with burnished aquatint and burin, capturing the dramatic action in the arena.
Description
In the foreground, a rider on horseback thrusts a lance into a bull; the rider appears caught mid-fall, while the bull remains in motion. Another rider stands beside the animal and also intervenes. Behind the arena wall, spectators can be seen, some in agitated poses. The layout is dynamic and draws the eye strongly to the action in the foreground.
Context
The series 'La Tauromaquia' was created between 1815 and 1816, during a period of political uncertainty in Spain after the Napoleonic Wars. It comprises 33 etchings and addresses various aspects of bullfighting, from historical scenes to contemporary events. Plate 28 records a documented incident in Madrid: the bullfighter Rendon killed a bull but lost his own life in the process. Goya, a passionate attendee of bullfights, captured the tradition in his works.
Impact
Strong contrasts and the dynamic arrangement make the moment of combat immediately palpable. The monochrome palette heightens the drama and focuses attention on the movements of human and animal.
Technique
The plate is an etching with burnished aquatint and burin on paper. The aquatint creates fine gray tones, while the burin adds sharp lines that bring out details of the figures and the arena.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)