After the Bullfight
1873 Art Institute of Chicago
About this artwork
This portrait captures a matador in his elaborate traje de luces, or 'suit of lights,' moments after a bullfight, leaning against a wooden barrier and lighting a cigarette. The artist, Mary Cassatt, painted this during her travels in Spain, reflecting her engagement with Spanish culture and its dramatic traditions.
Did you know?
Mary Cassatt, an American Impressionist, painted this work during her travels in Spain, where she was deeply influenced by the Spanish masters like Velázquez and Goya. 'After the Bullfight' captures a candid, intimate moment of a matador in repose, reflecting Cassatt's early interest in genre scenes and her ability to portray the human figure with both realism and psychological depth, a precursor to her later renowned works depicting women and children.
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After the Bullfight
Mary Cassatt, 1873
