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Tauromachy or the Art of Bullfighting (La Tauromaquia, ó Arte de Torear: Obra Utilísima Para los Toreros de Profesión, Para los Aficionados y Para Toda Clase de Sujetos Que Gusten de Toros) (Ediciones de la Cometa)
Artist: Pablo Picasso (Spanish (active France), 1881-1973)
Publisher: Editorial Gustavo Gili, S. A., Barcelona, 1959
Printer: aquatints: Lacourière Frères, Paris (Jacques Frélaut); drypoint: Jaume Pla, Barcelona; text: Sociedad Alianza de Artes Gráficas (S
Author: José Delgado y Gálvez (Pepe Illo) (Spanish, 1754-1801)
Date: 1959
Dimensions:
Slipcase: H: 14 7/16 in. (366 mm); W: 20 in. (508 mm); Depth: 2 3/8 in. (61 mm).
Chemise: H: 14 in. (356 mm); W: 19 13/16 in. (504 mm); Depth: 2 in. (51 mm).
Book: H: 14 in. (356 mm); W: 19 3/4 in. (502 mm); Depth: 1 3/4 in. (45 mm).
Page (untrimmed): H: 13 7/8 in. (352 mm); W: 19 1/2 in. (495 mm).
Image (approx.): H: 7 7/8 in. (200 mm); W: 11 5/8 in. (295 mm).
Medium: Original prints: 26 lift ground aquatints, plus 1 drypoint (front wrapper).
Text: letterpress (typeface: Ibarra).
Paper: off-white Guarro wove watermarked with a bull’s head designed by Picasso.
Classification: Books
Credit Line: Gift of Molly and Walter Bareiss in honor of Barbara K. Sutherland
Object number: 1984.926
Label Text:The Tauromaquia is the only major livre d'artiste by Picasso to be published in Spain. The theme of the bullfight was a natural one for the Spanish-born artist, for he was an avid aficionado, and images of heroic-looking bulls had frequently appeared in his art. The text of Pepe Illo, a celebrated matador who died in the ring in 1801, traces the art of bullfighting from start to finish. Picasso's fluidly drawn aquatints vividly capture the sense of ringside drama and excitement. A few flicks of Picasso's brush on the copper plates (which were then processed, inked, and printed) was enough to suggest the crowd, the bullfighter's and their cape, the proud powerful bull, and the bull ring. The blank white of the paper evokes the hot sunlight of late afternoon. For this edition, Picasso designed a special watermark in the shape of a bull's head, and this is faintly visible at the lower right corner of each sheet.
Picasso's Tauromaquia, in title, subject and printmaking technique, allude to the great series created by Goya almost 150 years before.
Picasso's Tauromaquia, in title, subject and printmaking technique, allude to the great series created by Goya almost 150 years before.
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In Collection(s)