Title page to the 'Colección de la principales suertes de una corrida de toros' 1790

Editor: This is the title page to the 'Colección de las principales suertes de una corrida de toros' created around 1790 by Antonio Carnicero. It's an engraving. There's a kind of staged, theatrical quality to the composition. What cultural stories do you see reflected in this print? Curator: I see a complex interplay of spectacle, power, and tradition. Consider the central banner announcing a collection of bullfighting feats. Banners, even today, carry symbolic weight; they are proclamations. And the bullfight itself… it’s a ritualistic drama. Does it strike you as purely sport, or something deeper? Editor: Deeper, definitely. It feels almost like a formalized dance, but with danger. Curator: Precisely. It's a carefully constructed spectacle loaded with symbols of courage, skill, and national identity. Notice the figures in the foreground, seemingly relaxed observers. They represent different societal strata, yet they're united by this shared cultural experience. Consider the symbols– the clothing of the men, the placid pose of the dog, and the background cityscape. What do these various compositional elements signify? Editor: That is an excellent question! I am thinking the cityscape serves as both the physical setting and backdrop for a cultural performance. The figures represent the audience but they may carry an element of symbolism through their appearance. I appreciate this interpretation; the interplay between power, spectacle, and tradition really clarifies what is at play. Curator: Indeed, the symbolic interplay weaves a rich tapestry of Spanish culture. It really allows us to question our interpretations of this and related visual symbols and stories.