Bullfight

The fifth print is considered to be part of The Bulls of Bordeaux, although it was discarded by the artist due to its lack of quality and could be a first rehearsal. The signature, the place and the date written on the stone recall GOya´s habit of signing and dating the first copperplates each time he began a new series. 

Although this lithograph was almost unknown until 1946, Goya's first biographer, Matheron, already spoke in 1858 of the "Cinq courses de taureaux: Aut. 31 cent. Larg. 41 cent."

As in Brave Bull, the scene is reminiscent of the bullfight with the Sevillian bullfighter Pepe Hillo. The bullfighter is shown hooked by the bull's right horn. A picador, on the left, comes up with his pike which he drives into the bull's body. Another does the same to the bull's hindquarters, a standing bullfighter jabs the bull with his pike from behind in one leg, while two other bullfighters hang on to its tail in an attempt to stop its animal fury. In the foreground, a fallen horse lies dying in a pool of blood.

At the back of the ring is a chaotic mass of horses, corpses and bullfighters. In the background, behind the curve of the barrier, is a barely sketched audience.