Oude stierenvechter 1824 - 1859

Francisco Goya etched this image of an old bullfighter, a relic of his former glory, now overshadowed by the very beast he once challenged. The bull, a symbol of raw power, stands beside him, a silent reminder of the passage of time and the inevitable decline. The bullfighter’s posture, arms crossed, speaks volumes. It echoes poses of vulnerability and defensiveness, reminiscent of ancient depictions of defeated warriors or mourning figures. Consider the image of the defeated Gaul, his proud strength now yielding to despair. The bullfighter’s gesture transcends mere protection against the cold; it is a primal reflex against the sting of mortality, the fear of obsolescence. This bullfighter is not merely an individual, but a vessel for the collective anxieties we all share about aging and losing our place in the arena of life. Goya masterfully captures this emotional landscape, inviting us to confront our own mortality through the lens of this fallen hero.