Fernando Botero - La corrida - 1980s

This is “The Picador’s Horse” (or Picador), from the series “The Bullfight,” 1988, by Fernando Botero.
It is an iconic work from his period devoted to bullfighting (bull runs), a theme Botero explored in depth with his characteristic humor and volume. This image was used as the main poster for the exhibition The Bullfight at Castello Sforzesco in Milan (December 1987 – January 1988).
Details of the painting:
• The picador: A robust, voluminous bullfighter mounted on a horse, dressed in the traditional suit (green embroidered jacket, wide-brimmed hat, beige trousers). He holds the spear (long staff) with authority.
• The horse: Also exaggeratedly bulky, protected with the classic green quilted blanket (the matador’s saddle blanket), typical of picador horses. Botero renders it with great expressiveness and presence.
• Composition: Dark background that highlights the figures, dramatic lighting, and Botero’s unmistakable style: inflated forms, soft curves, and a blend of solemnity and caricature.
• Technique: Oil on canvas, with the artist’s usual mastery of textures and volumes.
Botero felt a great fascination with Spanish and Mexican bullfighting culture. In these works he combines tradition (alluding to Goya and Picasso) with his personal “Boterismo,” turning the scene into something monumental, almost monumentally ironic.