El Cid Campeador lanceando otro toro (The Cid Campeador Spearing Another Bull)

El Cid Campeador lanceando otro toro (The Cid Campeador Spearing Another Bull) by Francisco Goya is a powerful example of the artist’s graphic work, created in 1816. This Spanish print is executed using a sophisticated blend of etching, burnished aquatint, and burin, methods which allowed Goya to achieve deep shadows and a palpable sense of action essential to the subject matter. The print is a first edition impression and exemplifies Goya’s production during the 1801 to 1825 period, a time defined by political upheaval and artistic innovation.

The work belongs to Goya’s seminal series, La Tauromaquia (The Art of Bullfighting), a historical and visual exploration of the Iberian tradition. While many plates in the series document specific techniques or famous bullfighters, this piece features the legendary figure of the Reconquista, El Cid Campeador. Goya depicts El Cid mounted on horseback, employing a long lance to engage the bull, a mode of confrontation rooted in aristocratic tradition rather than the modern sport of the corrida.

Goya utilizes the aquatint medium to generate dramatic contrasts, enveloping the figures in an atmosphere of intensity and dust. The burnishing technique adds subtle variations in tone, highlighting the power of the horse and the vulnerability of the bull. Goya’s treatment of this historical subject elevates the series beyond simple documentation, embedding it within the broader narrative of Spanish culture and martial prowess.

The availability of high-quality impressions ensures that this masterwork remains widely available in the public domain for research and appreciation. This significant print, illustrating a key moment in the history of the fiesta brava, is held within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.