Stier aangevallen door honden - Francisco de Goya

A striking etching from Francisco de Goya's La Tauromaquia series, depicting a bull under attack by dogs in an early form of Spanish bullfighting.

This etching belongs to the series titled La Tauromaquia, a collection of thirty-three prints by Francisco de Goya that document the history and practice of bullfighting in Spain. Published in 1816, the series captures the raw energy and violence inherent in the spectacle. In this specific plate, Goya depicts a bull under assault by a pack of dogs, a practice known as 'perros al toro' which was a common feature of early bullfighting events before the modern rules were established.

Goya employs a combination of etching and aquatint to define the forms. The composition is stark, set against a minimalist background that focuses the viewer on the physical struggle between the animals. The bull is positioned centrally, surrounded by dogs that lunge and bite. To the right, a mounted figure observes the scene, providing a sense of scale and context to the arena. The line work is precise, capturing the tension in the muscles of the animals and the chaotic movement of the encounter. Goya avoids unnecessary detail, allowing the negative space of the paper to represent the dusty ground of the bullring.

Unlike his later, more abstract works, this series demonstrates Goya's technical mastery of printmaking. He uses varying densities of etched lines to create shadow and volume, while the aquatint adds subtle tonal shifts. The work provides a historical record of a brutal tradition, presented with the artist's characteristic lack of sentimentality. It is a study of movement and animal behaviour, stripped of the pageantry often associated with the sport. The print reflects the artist's interest in the darker aspects of human entertainment and the visceral nature of the bullring.