Juan Soler

San Fermin Pamplona Spain oil on board painting

c.1995

Title: Bullfighting Scene Artist: José María Tuser Vázquez (1919-1986) Technique: Oil on board Dimensions: 25.6 x 21.3 in (65 x 54 cm) Frameless Period: Second half of the 20th century Art Movement: Figurative Expressionism with Impressionist influences Condition: Good, with visible signs of aging on the surface DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK This painting captures a crucial moment in a bullfight, where the matador, dressed in a dazzling traje de luces (suit of lights), elegantly holds the red cape (muleta) while facing a wounded bull. The scene conveys tension and drama through energetic and loose brushwork, with strong contrasts of light and color that enhance its expressiveness. The abstract background, built with gestural brushstrokes in warm, earthy tones, reinforces the dynamism and immediacy of the moment. The thick texture of the paint and the vibrant colors in the matador's attire and cape are characteristic of Figurative Expressionism, giving the work a strong emotional impact. Tuser masterfully captures the essence of movement and the intensity of the bullfight through a painterly approach reminiscent of Impressionism, but with a greater emphasis on gesture and expressive color, making his work stand out for its raw energy and dramatic depth. ARTIST BIOGRAPHY José María Tuser Vázquez (Barcelona, 1919 - 1986) was a Spanish painter specialized in bullfighting themes, gaining recognition in the 20th-century art scene for his expressive depictions of the corrida (bullfight). He studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in Barcelona, where he developed a strong mastery of color and composition. From 1947 onwards, his work focused almost entirely on bullfighting, creating posters, illustrations, and paintings that capture the emotion and spectacle of the arena. He was a frequent collaborator with El Ruedo magazine, where his illustrations and covers solidified his reputation. Additionally, in the 1940s, he designed series of postcards featuring traditional Spanish costumes for the Artigas Publishing House. His work has been auctioned in several art houses and is highly valued among collectors of bullfighting paintings. His influence and legacy in tauromaquia (bullfighting art...

Title: Torero and Bull Artist: José María Tuser Vázquez (1919-1986) Technique: Oil on canvas mounted on board Dimensions: 18.9 x 15 inches Framing: Unframed Art Movement: Costumbrismo, Figurative Expressionism Theme: Bullfighting Date of Creation: Second half of the 20th century DESCRIPTION The painting Torero and Bull depicts a classic bullfighting scene, where a matador, elegantly dressed in a golden and violet traje de luces, performs a pass with the cape while the bull, wounded with banderillas, bows toward the ground. The composition conveys dynamism and tension, emphasizing the drama of the moment with loose and expressive brushstrokes. The background is rendered in warm, diffused tones, contrasting with the deep black of the bull and the vivid hues of the cape. The thick brushwork and vibrant oil application enhance the sense of movement and emotion in the scene, a distinctive feature of Tuser Vázquez’s bullfighting paintings. ARTIST'S BIOGRAPHY José María Tuser Vázquez (Barcelona, 1919 - 1986) was a Spanish painter specializing in bullfighting themes. He trained at the School of Arts and Crafts in Barcelona, where he developed a strong foundation in drawing and painting. From 1947 onwards, he dedicated his artistic production to tauromaquia, creating posters, illustrations, and paintings that captured the intensity of the bullfighting spectacle. He was a regular contributor to the magazine El Ruedo and designed a series of postcards featuring traditional Spanish costumes for Editorial Artigas in the 1940s. His work has been auctioned numerous times and is highly valued by collectors of bullfighting art...