Another madness of his in the same ring, plate 19 from The Art of Bullfighting Possibly 1815 - 1816

This etching, made by Francisco de Goya, depicts a bullfighter balancing precariously on a table as a bull charges. The bull, a symbol of primal power and untamed nature, has been central in Iberian culture since ancient times, linked to myths of strength and fertility. Observe how this motif echoes through history, from the Minoan bull-leaping rituals to the Mithraic mysteries where the sacrifice of the bull brought forth new life. Here, in Goya's rendition, the bullfight is less about triumph and more about the precarious dance between man and beast, reason and instinct. The bullfighter's acrobatic stance, frozen in a moment of near-impossible balance, evokes a sense of desperate survival. This image taps into a collective memory of confronting our own mortality and the unpredictable forces of nature. It's a powerful reminder of how ancient symbols continue to resonate, embodying our deepest fears and aspirations.