The bull fight

Aldin's striking picture of a bullfight taking place in the Plaza de Toros in Palma de Mallorca conveys a sense of both the enormity and the fascination of the spectacle. His use of light and shadow focuses the viewer's attention onto the bull and the matador as they engage in their duel. The image presents the final stage of the bullfight, or corrida de toros [running of bulls], when the matador, wearing his iconic 'suit of lights' [traje de luces], enters the ring alone carrying a small red cape [muleta] and sword. It is a common misconception that the colour red is supposed to anger the bull, instead red was chosen to make any blood stains less noticeable.

During this stage of the highly ritualised fight the matador makes a series of passes, often getting exceptionally close to the bull in order to demonstrate his control over the animal, before finally stabbing the creature between the shoulder blades.