Open full image Pin

Don Chepito

José Guadalupe Posada

1895

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Don Chepito is a 1895 ink by José Guadalupe Posada, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: José Guadalupe Posada
When & what style?: 1895 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

In this relief etching on pink paper, a man is depicted being tossed by a bull. The man's arms and legs are splayed as he falls to the ground, while the bull stands over him, its head lowered and its tail raised. The man's facial expression is one of shock and fear. The image is rendered in a detailed and realistic style, with intricate lines and textures that give the scene a sense of depth and dimensionality. The use of pink paper as the background adds a touch of warmth and humanity to the scene, which contrasts with the violence and chaos of the action. This etching is characteristic of the Realism movement, which sought to depict everyday life and events in a truthful and unromanticized way. To learn more about this style, look up the Realism movement.