Mariano Ceballos rijdend op een stier - Francisco de Goya

A detailed etching from Goya's 'La Tauromaquia' series, depicting the matador Mariano Ceballos performing a feat of horsemanship within the bullring.

This print belongs to the series 'La Tauromaquia', a collection of thirty-three etchings by Francisco de Goya. The series documents the history and practice of bullfighting in Spain. This specific plate depicts the legendary matador Mariano Ceballos, also known as 'El Indio', performing a daring feat by riding a bull while mounted on another animal.

Goya employs a combination of etching and aquatint to create the atmospheric quality of the scene. The background is rendered with subtle tonal washes, which provide a sense of space without distracting from the central action. The figures of the bull and the rider are defined by precise, biting lines that capture the tension of the encounter. The composition focuses on the physical struggle between the animals, reflecting Goya's interest in the raw energy of the bullring.

Unlike his later, more phantasmagoric works, this series maintains a documentary approach to the subject matter. Goya observes the mechanics of the spectacle with a detached eye, focusing on the technical skill required by the matador. The print demonstrates his mastery of light and shadow, using the aquatint to suggest the dusty environment of the arena. This work provides a clear view into the cultural practices of early nineteenth-century Spain, captured through the lens of a printmaker who understood the dramatic potential of the medium.