The Moors Use Donkeys as a Barrier to Defend Themselves against the Bull Whose Horns Have Been Tipped with Balls - Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes

A striking etching from Goya's La Tauromaquia series, depicting a historical bullfighting technique involving donkeys as defensive barriers.

This work is plate 17 from La Tauromaquia, a series of thirty-three prints by Francisco Goya documenting the history and practice of bullfighting in Spain. Published in 1816, the series explores the evolution of the spectacle, moving from ancient traditions to the modern techniques of the artist's own era.

In this specific composition, Goya depicts a historical method of bullfighting, where participants used donkeys as a physical shield against the animal. The scene captures the chaotic nature of the encounter, with the bull tossing a donkey into the air while men with spears attempt to manage the situation. The use of aquatint creates a stark, atmospheric depth, grounding the figures in a dusty, sun-scorched arena. Goya employs a combination of etching and aquatint to define the forms, using the contrast between light and shadow to direct the viewer's eye across the struggle.

Unlike his later, more phantasmagorical series, La Tauromaquia maintains a focus on the physical reality of the sport. Goya does not shy away from the violence or the absurdity of the tactics employed. The figures are rendered with economy, their movements captured in a few decisive lines. The composition is balanced, yet it conveys a sense of immediate danger. This print offers a window into the cultural practices of early nineteenth-century Spain, presented through the technical mastery of one of the period's most significant printmakers. The work remains a primary source for understanding the development of the bullfight, stripped of romanticised notions and presented with the artist's characteristic directness.