They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure, plate four from The Art of Bullfighting Possibly 1814 - 1816

"They Play Another with the Cape in an Enclosure" is a print by Francisco de Goya. The composition, dominated by stark contrasts, immediately draws our eyes to the bull and matador on the left. Goya masterfully uses aquatint to create tonal variations, from the dark, textured form of the bull to the lighter, more open space of the arena. The scene unfolds through the dynamic arrangement of figures—the poised matador, the charging bull, and the fallen figure in the background. Goya's focus on the bullfight isn’t merely a depiction of a spectacle, but rather an exploration of primal forces and human confrontation with mortality. Consider how the artist manipulates light and shadow to create a sense of drama and tension. The way the figures are positioned creates a narrative that is both immediate and timeless, inviting us to question the values and traditions embedded in the spectacle of the bullfight.