The artwork entitled “The Morisco Gazul is the First to Fight Bulls with a Lance” was created by the renowned artist Francisco Goya between 1815 and 1816. It is an etching and aquatint on paper with dimensions of 25 x 35 cm. The work belongs to the Romanticism art movement and is a part of the “Tauromaquia” series. This piece can be categorized within the genre of caricature, which is indicative of Goya’s critical and satirical lens.
The artwork depicts a dynamic and intense moment of bullfighting, capturing the ferocity and motion inherent in the sport. A figure, Gazul, is portrayed in the act of fighting a bull with a lance while mounted on a horse. The man is dressed in traditional costume, and his posture suggests a moment of confrontation and bravery. The bull, caught mid-movement, appears aggressive and strong, charging towards the horse and rider. The use of stark contrast and fine detail contributes to the drama and tension of the scene. The emphasis on movement and emotion is characteristic of Goya’s work and the Romantic period, which often focused on expressing the sublime, the dramatic, and the passionate aspects of human experiences and the natural world.
