Dead Toreador

The Dead Toreador is a significant print created by Édouard Manet French, 1832-1883, between 1867 and 1868. This work exemplifies Manet’s keen interest in Spanish subjects and his innovative approach to graphic media. Classified as a print, the piece was executed using a combination of techniques, including etching, aquatint, and drypoint, rendered in black ink upon buff laid paper. The utilization of drypoint, characterized by its slightly velvety burr, contrasts effectively with the tonal washes achieved through aquatint, lending the image a stark, dramatic quality appropriate for the somber subject matter.

Created during a period when the Parisian avant-garde was actively challenging academic norms, Manet often looked to the masters of Spain, such as Velázquez and Goya, for inspiration, utilizing dramatic lighting and minimal background to focus the viewer's attention. This influence is evident in the realism and composition of the deceased bullfighter. The composition likely derives from studies related to the artist's larger oil works, demonstrating how Manet fluently translated his visual ideas across different media. These high-quality prints capture the immediacy and boldness characteristic of the artist's mature style in France. The definitive execution and rich tonal depth of the etching contribute to its status as a pivotal graphic work by Manet, and it remains a celebrated part of the Art Institute of Chicago's renowned collection.