Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art

About this Work

In 1816, Goya published a series of thirty-three prints depicting the Spanish passion for bullfighting. The first thirteen plates trace the evolution of bullfighting from the ancient sport of hunting bulls to the nineteenth-century communal event, while the later plates focus on techniques and artistry of famous contemporary bullfighters, like Juanito Apinani.
While the series lacked the mystery, satire, and emotional impact of some of his other print series, Goya's acute observations captured the spectacle and brutality of the sport, the anatomy of the animals, and the grace and daring of the matadors. It also demonstrates his mastery of movement and light effects, such as the clever merging of the shadow of the bull with that of the airborne bullfighter. The Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art has four other prints from this series (EMA 98.268.1-.2, 98.268.4 and 2016.51).