Jose Maria Tuser Vazquez

bullfighter and bull oil on cardboard painting

c.1980

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...

Oil measures 30x30 cm. Frame measures 52x52 cm. He was born in 1951. Under the direction of the teacher Pedro Bermejo, he began his artistic career, quickly standing out and observing in his works an unusual mastery of drawing. A highly mature painter who has known how to stop time in all his works. His themes are preferably costumbrist, although in his work it is usual to see 18th century themes, with horse carriages, hats, umbrellas and still lifes. Observing his work reminds us, due to the theme, of Maestro Palmero...