Artifact World Gallery
Get the iOS app

Artwork

Bullfights: They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure

Francisco de Goya , 1816

Bullfights: They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure, by Francisco de Goya, 1816
Bullfights: They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure, by Francisco de Goya, 1816

Bullfights: They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure is a print by the Romanticist artist Francisco de Goya. It dates from 1816 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.
1923.543
Credit line
Charles W. Harkness Endowment Fund

About this work

Overview

Bullfights: They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure is an 1816 print by Francisco de Goya, housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts a tense, dynamic scene within a partially enclosed space.

Subject & Meaning

The print shows three figures in a dramatic confrontation: a rider clinging to a bucking bull's horns, a cape-wielding assistant poised for action, and a bystander observing the perilous moment. The scene highlights the danger and physicality of bullfighting.

Technique & Style

Goya employed quick, expressive lines and a predominantly dark palette to convey intense movement and tension. The composition leverages chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to amplify the dramatic atmosphere.

History & Provenance

Created in 1816, the print is part of Goya's oeuvre exploring bullfighting themes. It is currently part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.

Context

This work reflects Goya's fascination with the spectacle and brutality of bullfighting, a popular subject in early 19th-century Spanish culture. The print may also allude to the broader themes of human vulnerability and the struggle against nature.

Bullfights: The Moors Use Donkeys as a Barrier to Defend Themselves Against the Bull Whose Horns Have Been Tipped with Balls
Bullfights: The Moors Use Donkeys as a Barrier to Defend Themselves Against the Bull Whose Horns Have Been Tipped with Balls, Francisco de Goya

Artist & collection

Portrait of Francisco de Goya

Artist

Francisco de Goya

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker.

MORE BY FRANCISCO DE GOYA

SAME SUBJECT

Similarity 85 percent
This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Bullfights: They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure?

Bullfights: They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure was painted by Francisco de Goya in 1816.

Where can I see Bullfights: They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure?

Bullfights: They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Bullfights: They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure?

Bullfights: They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure is associated with Romanticism.