How the ancient Spaniards hunted bulls on horseback in the countryside (preparatory drawing)

In the preparatory drawing for How the ancient Spaniards hunted bulls on horseback in the countryside, Goya attempted to emphasise the primitive aspect of the scene through visual means with the very intelligent use of sophisticated formal resources that reinforce the sense of victims of human barbarity. The bestiality is emphasised by the rod with which the bull is immobilised, forcing him to lower his head and be submissive to the rider, by the primitive clothing made of animal skins and, above all, by the facial expression, with unkempt beards.

For this characterisation, Goya was inspired by Nicolás Fernández de Moratín's text Historical Letters on the Origin and Development of Bullfighting in Spain, 1777. The primitivism of the mimicry and gestures are complemented by lifeless, scenic landscapes, where clouds and shadows help to recreate the atmosphere of a bygone era.

As Matilla describes, the brutality evident in this first image of the series becomes an essential feature. In this sense, we can interpret this characterisation of its protagonist as a covert criticism of human savagery expressed through bullfighting.  This is something that Goya had the opportunity to capture shortly before in his series of Disasters.