Date: 1954
Size: 42 x 21.5 inches
Artist: Luis Garcia Campo
About this Poster: This unique and colourful poster features a bullfighting painting by Spanish artist Luis Garcia Campo. It advertises "Corridas Generals" or bullfights in the city of Bilbao during the month of August. Some of the matadors featured were Antonio Ordonez, Juan Silveti and Manolo Vazquez. Next to the matadors, the print advertises "Ganaderia," or livestock.
Spanish-style bullfighting is called corrida de toros (coursing of bulls) or la fiesta ("the festival"). In the traditional corrida, three matadors each fight two bulls. The modern corrida is highly ritualized, with three distinct stages or tercios "thirds"); the start of each being announced by a bugle sound. In the final stage, the tercio de muerte ("the third of death"), the Matadore emerges with a red handkerchief, the iconic symbol of the sport.
American author Ernest Hemingway wrote of it in his 1932 non-fiction book Death in the afternoon: "Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighter's honor." Bullfighting is seen by some as a symbol of Spanish national culture.
The poster is in excellent condition and ready to be framed !