Artwork
Bullfights: They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure

Bullfights: They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure 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: They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure is an 1816 print by Francisco de Goya, housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts a tense, dynamic scene within a partially enclosed space.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows three figures in a dramatic confrontation: a rider clinging to a bucking bull's horns, a cape-wielding assistant poised for action, and a bystander observing the perilous moment. The scene highlights the danger and physicality of bullfighting.
Technique & Style
Goya employed quick, expressive lines and a predominantly dark palette to convey intense movement and tension. The composition leverages chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to amplify the dramatic atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created in 1816, the print is part of Goya's oeuvre exploring bullfighting themes. It is currently part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.
Context
This work reflects Goya's fascination with the spectacle and brutality of bullfighting, a popular subject in early 19th-century Spanish culture. The print may also allude to the broader themes of human vulnerability and the struggle against nature.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; Spanish: ; 30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker.



















