GOYA Y LUCIENTES, Francisco de
(b. 1746, Fuendetodos, d. 1828, Bordeaux)

Unfortunate Events in the Front Seats of the Ring of Madrid

1815-16
Etching and aquatint, 245 x 355 mm
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This is Plate 21 from the series Tauromaquia.

A bull has leapt over the barrier and killed and injured a number of spectators. Goya leaves the left half of the picture empty, infringing the rules of compositional harmony. A number of spectators are nevertheless flinging themselves from right to left: out of the static balance, Goya develops a dynamic one.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 3 minutes):
Georges Bizet: Carmen, Prelude