Corridas de Toros 1814 - 1816

This is the cover of Francisco de Goya’s album Corridas de Toros, made with etching and aquatint. As a court painter, Goya was an insider to the Spanish Royal Family, and an acute observer of the customs of the time. This series of prints reflects the artist’s interest in bullfighting as a cultural phenomenon in Spain. The ritualistic drama of the bullfight offered a stage for displays of bravery, skill, and violence, embodying aspects of Spanish identity. But Goya's work transcends mere documentation. It uses the imagery of the bullring to explore the social, political, and psychological dimensions of Spanish society. He captures the spectacle and pageantry of the bullfight, but also the brutality and suffering inherent in the tradition. It's clear from Goya's other works that he was a critic of the church and the aristocracy. To truly understand Goya’s bullfighting series, one must delve into the visual culture of 18th and 19th century Spain, exploring sources like contemporary accounts of bullfights, historical studies of Spanish society, and the artist's wider body of work. The meaning of art depends so much on its social and institutional context.