Origen de los arpones o banderillas (Origin of the Harpoons or Banderillas)

Origen de los arpones o banderillas (Origin of the Harpoons or Banderillas) by Francisco Goya, executed in 1816, is a powerful example of the artist's late printmaking mastery. Classified as a portfolio piece, the Spanish master employed a complex combination of techniques, utilizing etching, burnished aquatint, and burin to achieve dramatic tonal contrasts. This work dates from the crucial period of 1801 to 1825, a time of profound political and social upheaval across Europe following the Peninsular War, which heavily influenced the subject matter Goya chose to explore.

Goya often used the deep, velvety textures produced by aquatint to exploit the graphic potential of darkness and shadow, providing immense depth and emotional weight to his scenes. While the work is technically sophisticated, requiring precise control over acid baths and subsequent burnishing, the subject matter remains enigmatic yet suggestive. The title's reference to banderillas links the composition, either metaphorically or directly, to the cultural traditions of Spanish bullfighting or perhaps the brutal origins of weaponry and conflict. As one of the preeminent figures in European art, Goya’s commitment to prints allowed him to explore subjects that challenged academic conventions and reflected his increasingly critical and often pessimistic worldview of human nature.

This work demonstrates the innovation Goya brought to the field of printmaking, elevating the status of the medium from a purely reproductive craft to a genuine form of artistic expression. The surviving impression quality, often noted as a first edition, confirms the early clarity of the lines and the rich texture of the burnished aquatint. The piece is held in the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a critical document of early nineteenth-century Spanish graphic art. Like many historical works from this period, high-resolution reproductions of these historically significant prints are frequently made available to the public domain for scholarly research and appreciation.