El esforzado Rendon picando un toro, de cuya suerte murio en plaza de Madrid (The Forceful Rendon Stabs a Bull with the Pique, from Which Pass He Died in the Ring at Madrid) by Francisco Goya is a profound example of Spanish printmaking produced around 1816. The work utilizes a complex combination of etching, burnished aquatint, and burin to achieve dramatic contrasts in light and shadow, typical of the artist’s graphic works from this period. This particular piece, which is a first edition impression, was originally conceived as part of a larger portfolio that explored the history and brutality of the bullfight.
The subject dramatically captures the perilous nature of the spectacle, specifically detailing the fatal pass of the picador Rendon in the Madrid ring. Goya, whose prolific career spanned the late 18th and early 19th centuries, frequently explored themes relating to violence, spectacle, and the inherent darkness beneath Spanish society. This piece, created during the period of 1801 to 1825, reflects the artist’s deep engagement with both traditional Spanish customs and the brutal realities of human conflict. The composition emphasizes the danger to the horse and rider, focusing the viewer’s attention on the precise moment of deadly impact.
Goya achieved widespread recognition for his masterful series of prints, which remain some of the most influential graphic works in art history. The detailed execution and historical specificity of the scene make this one of the most compelling plates within the artist’s bullfighting portfolio. As a significant example of Goya's experimentation with print media, this artwork is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to its historical nature, high-resolution images of these master prints are often accessible for research or display through various public domain initiatives, ensuring broad access to the work of this pivotal Spanish master.
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