The dramatic print Bull Attacked by Dogs by Francisco Goya, executed in 1825, is a powerful example of the artist’s late graphic output. This work is a lithograph, created using the relatively new technique on wove paper, showcasing the technical mastery Goya achieved in the medium toward the end of his life. The development and deployment of lithography during this time allowed for a new expressiveness, contrasting sharply with the more precise lines of traditional etching. This period, encompassing 1801 to 1825, marked a time of significant political turmoil and personal exile for the Spanish master.
The scene depicts a chaotic and visceral confrontation where a bull, massive and overwhelmed, is cornered and assailed by a pack of aggressive dogs. Goya uses the stark contrasts and rich tonal variations unique to the lithographic process to heighten the sense of violence and distress. The shadows defining the struggling figures are deep and velvety, emphasizing the chaotic energy of the encounter. Although thematically related to his earlier Disasters of War series and the documentation of bullfighting in the Tauromaquia, the focus here is intensely fixed on the raw, animalistic struggle rather than human participation or social commentary.
Goya produced this specific image late in his career while living in self-imposed exile in Bordeaux, France. Despite his physical separation from his homeland, his profound engagement with Spanish culture and its often brutal spectacles permeates the composition. This print provides crucial insight into the graphic explorations of the master during the 1820s, demonstrating his continuing innovation well into his seventy-ninth year. As a significant example of early 19th-century lithography, the work is preserved within the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art. Late works such as these, particularly these late-period lithograph prints, contribute substantially to the understanding of the artist's final period, and many such works are now available for study within the public domain.
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