Pepe Illo Making the Pass of the 'Recorte' - Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes

A dramatic etching from Goya's 'La Tauromaquia' series, depicting the matador Pepe Illo performing a daring pass in the bullring.

This work is plate 29 from the series 'La Tauromaquia', a collection of thirty-three prints produced by Francisco Goya between 1815 and 1816. The series documents the history and practice of bullfighting in Spain, a subject that fascinated the artist throughout his career. In this specific scene, Goya captures the matador Pepe Illo performing the 'recorte', a daring manoeuvre where the bullfighter dodges the animal at close range.

The composition demonstrates Goya's mastery of aquatint, a technique he employed to create atmospheric depth and tonal variation. The figures of the matador and the bull are positioned in the foreground, their forms defined by sharp, expressive lines that convey the tension of the encounter. In the background, the blurred forms of the picadors and the indistinct crowd in the stands provide a sense of scale and environment, without distracting from the central action.

Goya's approach to the subject is observational rather than celebratory. He focuses on the physical mechanics of the sport, the danger inherent in the performance, and the stark reality of the arena. The use of dark, moody tones across the plate reflects the gravity of the event. By stripping away unnecessary detail, Goya directs the viewer's attention to the precise moment of interaction between man and beast. This print remains a significant example of Goya's technical skill in printmaking, showing his ability to manipulate light and shadow to evoke movement and drama within a static medium.