Caida de un picador de su caballo debajo del toro (A Picador is Unhorsed and Falls under the Bull)

Caida de un picador de su caballo debajo del toro (A Picador is Unhorsed and Falls under the Bull) is a powerful print created by Francisco Goya in 1816. The work is executed using a complex combination of etching, burnished aquatint, and drypoint, techniques the artist mastered during this tumultuous Spanish period, which spans the years 1801 to 1825. This particular impression represents a key component of Goya's iconic La Tauromaquia portfolio, a series that detailed the history, spectacle, and inherent brutality of the traditional bullfight.

The composition captures a moment of extreme peril, showing the picador and his horse being violently thrown beneath the massive bulk of the charging bull. Goya uses deep, dramatic shadows, achieved through aquatint, to emphasize the chaos and immediate danger of the arena. Unlike earlier, more idealized portrayals of the sport, this piece unflinchingly highlights the grim reality of the contest, focusing on the inevitable failures and sacrifices inherent in the spectacle. The energy and quick, sharp lines achieved through drypoint give the scene a sense of frantic, desperate movement.

As one of the most widely circulated prints from the Tauromaquia series, the image reflects Goya’s late career focus on both popular culture and unflinching observation. The technical brilliance ensured that these detailed prints were highly influential on subsequent generations of printmakers across Europe. This impression of Caida de un picador de su caballo debajo del toro is held within the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to the age and renown of the artist, high-quality images of this significant Spanish masterwork are frequently available in the public domain for research and study.