Gezicht op het Plaza Mayor de Madrid, met een stierengevecht 1766 - 1804

This print, made by an anonymous artist, depicts a bullfight in the Plaza Mayor of Madrid. Bullfighting in Spain has a long history, dating back to ancient Iberian rituals and solidifying as a public spectacle by the 18th century. Here, the Plaza Mayor itself becomes a stage for the drama of the bullfight. The architecture looms large, its balconies packed with spectators, emphasizing the social and institutional context of the event. The artist captures the excitement, but also the ritualized nature, of the spectacle. The Plaza Mayor, originally designed to stage public events that would burnish the image of the monarchy, literally frames the image of social power. Understanding this print requires a careful examination of Spanish social history, the role of the monarchy, and the cultural significance of bullfighting itself. By researching historical accounts, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complex interplay of power, spectacle, and tradition embedded in this image.