Suerte X: A torero prepares to stab the bull 1845 - 1855

This print, titled *Suerte X: A torero prepares to stab the bull,* was made anonymously, using wood engraving on paper. The image depicts the moment of truth in a bullfight, with the torero poised to deliver the final blow. The black ink on the page gives it a stark quality, emphasizing the drama and danger of the scene. The printmaking process, requiring skill in carving the wood block, has imbued the artwork with a sense of graphic precision and detail, echoing popular imagery. Prints like these circulated widely, bringing scenes of spectacle to a broad audience, but also raising questions of labor, class, and consumption. The spectacle depicted here relied on specialized skills, from the torero to the printer, and contributed to a system of entertainment that had clear winners and losers. Considering the materials, making, and context of popular prints like these is important to expand the traditional art history boundaries, and challenge distinctions between high art and craft.