Artwork

Bullfights: A Picador is Unhorsed and Falls Under the Bull

Bullfights:  A Picador is Unhorsed and Falls Under the Bull, by Francisco Goya, 1816
Bullfights:  A Picador is Unhorsed and Falls Under the Bull, by Francisco Goya, 1816

Bullfights: A Picador is Unhorsed and Falls Under the Bull is a print by the Romanticist artist Francisco Goya. It dates from 1816 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Bullfights: A Picador is Unhorsed and Falls Under the Bull is a print created by Francisco de Goya in 1816, currently housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a chaotic moment in a bullfight where a picador falls under the bull, with another rider struggling to stay mounted. The scene conveys intense drama and peril.

Technique & Style

Goya employed strong light-dark contrasts, characteristic of chiaroscuro, to heighten the scene's intensity and direct the viewer's focus to the central action.

History & Provenance

Created in 1816, the work is part of Goya's oeuvre from a period marked by his exploration of darker, more emotionally charged themes.

Context

The print reflects Goya's fascination with bullfighting, a popular Spanish spectacle, and his ability to capture its brutal beauty and dynamic energy.

Legacy

As part of Goya's body of work, it contributes to his reputation as a master of capturing dramatic tension and exploring the human experience through printmaking.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Francisco Goya

Artist

Francisco Goya

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; Spanish: ; 30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.