Origin of the Harpoons or Banderilias 1816

Curator: Here we have "Origin of the Harpoons or Banderilias" by Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, now residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There's a certain nervous energy about it, isn't there? The bull seems stolid, but the matador and his assistants are all angular gestures. Curator: Goya's works often reflect a keen interest in depicting the realities and rituals of Spanish society, even its cruelties. I wonder about the specific etching process here; the line work really captures a sense of frenetic movement. Editor: You can practically smell the arena. It's fascinating how a relatively simple medium can convey such a powerful, almost visceral experience. The rough texture really adds to that gritty feel. One wonders if it was intentional or the limitations of its production. Curator: It's a dance with death, etched in ink. Editor: Indeed. Goya's printmaking certainly lends itself well to that theme of mortality and fragility.