A Moor Caught by the Bull in the Ring, plate 8 from The Art of Bullfighting Possibly 1814 - 1816

Francisco de Goya created this print, titled 'A Moor Caught by the Bull in the Ring', as part of his series on bullfighting. Goya, living in a Spain marked by social hierarchy, captures a scene fraught with cultural and racial tensions. The 'Moor'—likely a reference to Spain's historical interactions with North Africa and the Islamic world—is depicted here in a moment of extreme vulnerability. The bullring, a stage for displays of Spanish national identity and prowess, becomes a site of danger and exclusion for this figure. The print invites us to consider the power dynamics inherent in cultural spectacles, and to reflect on whose stories are being told, and at whose expense. What does it mean to include a Moor in a series celebrating the art of bullfighting? Goya seems to be asking us to confront uncomfortable truths about identity, spectacle, and violence.