La desgraciada muerte de Pepe Illo en la plaza de Madrid (The Unlucky Death of Pepe Illo in the Ring at Madrid) by Francisco Goya, dating from 1816, is a powerful example of the Spanish master's printmaking technique. This working proof was executed using a combination of etching, drypoint, and burin, methods that allowed Goya to achieve dramatic contrasts and textural complexity. The work belongs to Goya's iconic series, La Tauromaquia (The Art of Bullfighting), a project dedicated to chronicling the history, customs, and inherent danger of the national spectacle. Created during the period of 1801 to 1825, this image captures the Romantic sensibility that had begun to infuse Spanish culture, emphasizing intense emotion and raw drama over classical ideals.
The print depicts the fatal goring of the celebrated bullfighter José Delgado Guerra, known as Pepe Illo, an event that occurred in 1801. Goya deliberately eschews the customary heroic portrayal of the sport, focusing instead on the moment of horrific chaos. The composition is highly dynamic, capturing the bull’s immediate thrust and the surrounding confusion as spectators and assistants rush forward. Goya’s technical mastery is evident in the precise, kinetic lines produced by the drypoint, which convey the frantic energy of the crowd, contrasted with the darker, heavier lines of the etching that anchor the dying bullfighter to the ground.
This print, classified simply as a working proof, offers crucial insight into Goya’s evolving process as he refined the details and atmosphere of his plates. As one of the most significant prints from his late career, La desgraciada muerte de Pepe Illo en la plaza de Madrid reflects Goya's long-standing preoccupation with violence, public spectacle, and the darker side of human nature. This important piece from the era of 1801 to 1825 is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, providing a definitive record of the genius of this Spanish graphic artist.
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