A Spanish mounted knight in the ring breaking short spears without the help of assistants, plate 13 from The Art of Bullfighting Possibly 1814 - 1816

Editor: So, here we have Goya’s etching, "A Spanish Mounted Knight in the Ring Breaking Short Spears...", possibly created between 1814 and 1816. What strikes me immediately is how raw and visceral it feels, even with its delicate lines. What do you see in this piece that maybe I’m missing? Curator: It's a bullfight, alright, but look beyond the spectacle. I see Goya grappling with the turbulence of his time – war, political upheaval, you know, the usual cheery stuff. Bullfighting, for him, wasn't just entertainment; it was a metaphor. The ring becomes this stage where courage and brutality collide, right? And that knight, trying to break those spears...is he a hero? Or just another player in this tragic drama? Editor: So, it’s less about the event itself and more about what it represents? Like, the futility of strength against something inherently wild? Curator: Exactly! The fragility of civilization against the brute force of…well, everything! Life, death, politics! Plus, Goya’s not idealizing anything. Notice how the scene feels almost desperate, urgent? He’s throwing us right into the heart of the chaos. Almost makes you feel you’re getting bucked around on that horse too, doesn't it? And Goya, he lived through some stuff himself. Makes you wonder, doesn't it...What did he leave out of this picture? Editor: That's fascinating. It definitely gives me a different perspective on what I initially saw as just a historical depiction. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It's amazing how art can be both a window to the past and a mirror reflecting our own anxieties, isn't it? I keep finding new ways of interpreting his works.