21. Bullfighting Scene [1959]

A defining element of Picasso's work, also present in this piece, is the theme of the bullfight. At the age of 8, the artist first attended a bullfight in Malaga and at the same time, in 1889, painted his first bullfight scene, titled "The Little Yellow Picador". He became fascinated by the bestiality and theatrical brutality conveyed by the bullfight, an interest to which he remained dedicated until the end of his life: following the arenas in Malaga, he continued to avidly watch the bullfights in France. Simultaneously, the art of bullfighting became a recurring subject that Picasso explored in various forms, including printmaking. Although the Cubist bullfight scenes might be better known (we remind "La mort du torero" from 1933), printmaking allowed him to capture the fights instantaneously. He tries to convey the fascination for the violence of the body clashes, using frugal sketches to dynamically render the scene: that of the toreador, in his dance with the bull, but also that of the bull which threatens the picador's horse at any time. Systematically dated and organized in series, Picasso's works could almost function as a diary allowing detailed observation of the artist's career and life. This piece, made in ink in May 1959, is dedicated to the Spanish photographer Esteban Chapresto, with whom Picasso maintained a close friendship. Chapresto, famed for his photographs of bullfights, or of other significant cultural figures, such as Ernest Hemingway, also photographed Picasso in the 50s at the bullring in Nîmes, France, for the magazine "El Ruedo". As a return, the painter dedicated and gifted him several graphic drawings. In this piece, made in 1959, the artist amplifies the picador as the central element of the fight and uses quick and precise strokes to convey the sensation of movement. In this way, in line with faithful documentation, Picasso constructs a composition with stylized figures and a spontaneous effect. (L.M.)

References

GRIGORESCU, Dan, "Dictionary of the Avant-gardes", Encyclopedic Publishing House, 2003 KANUBHAI PATEL, Parul, "Pablo Picasso. The Spanish tradition of bullfighting", College of the Arts of Kent State University, 2012 "Picasso and bullfighting", Picasso Museum, 2013 "Picasso, the king of the arena", Carré d'artistes, 2021 "Picasso and the Art of Bullfighting", Sotheby’s, 2017 CAMARA, Javier, "Picasso and Chapresto, exchange of works in Nîmes in the 1950s", Nuevecuatrouno, 2021

Dimensions

width 16.5 cm, height 11.5 cm

Description

ink on paper, signed and dated central below, with ink, "Picasso, 18.5.(19)59"; dedicated left below, with ink, "para el amigo Chaprate"

Dating

1959

PROVENANCE

Tajan auction, France, 05.16.2013, lot 211. Photographer Esteban Chapresto's collection. https://nuevecuatrouno.com/2021/03/28/toros-picasso-chapresto-intercambio-dibujos-nimes/

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.

For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.