Banderillas med lynkinesere 1815 - 1816

This print, "Banderillas med lynkinesere," was made by Francisco Goya, and is located at the SMK. It’s an etching, meaning that Goya drew an image into a coated metal plate with a sharp needle, then bathed it in acid, which bit into the exposed lines. The plate was then inked and printed. Look closely and you can see how the etched lines create a powerful sense of drama in this bullfighting scene. The density of lines creates shadows and textures. It's a very labor intensive process, requiring considerable skill in drawing, chemistry, and printing. Goya returned to printmaking repeatedly throughout his career. Why? Because it allowed him to reach a broad audience. Although the wealthy could buy paintings, etchings like this one were relatively affordable. In that sense, printmaking democratized his art, turning it into a commodity for mass consumption.