The Agility and Audacity of Juanito Apiñani in [the ring] at Madrid 1816

Curator: This is Francisco Goya's etching, "The Agility and Audacity of Juanito Apiñani in [the ring] at Madrid," part of his Tauromaquia series. Editor: The scene is striking. The bull's fury is palpable, but Apiñani’s escape is almost balletic. It makes you wonder about the ethics of spectatorship here, doesn't it? Curator: Goya's critical gaze on Spanish society definitely extended to bullfighting, and these prints circulated widely. Consider that bullfighting was used as a tool of social control, a spectacle masking deeper issues. Editor: Precisely. Goya uses the graphic medium to subvert the heroic narratives of bullfighting, exposing the inherent violence. We see the performative elements—the crowd, the ritual—but also the very real dangers of class disparity played out in the ring. Curator: What strikes me is how Goya uses stark contrasts to highlight both the skill of Apiñani, and the precariousness of his position. Editor: It’s a dance with death, revealing how power structures can be both thrilling and terrifying. This piece allows us to grapple with those complexities. Curator: Goya truly captured the ethos of his time through this dramatic depiction. Editor: It's a snapshot of tradition that urges us to confront uncomfortable truths about power and spectacle.