Bullfight 1910

Pyotr Konchalovsky made this painting, Bullfight, in oil on canvas; it is a frenetic scene. The artist uses a range of reds, purples, yellows, and blacks. There is a freedom to the brushwork, each stroke feels deliberate. The painting has a wonderful textural quality, thanks to the artist’s application of paint. It’s thick and juicy in places, especially in the bull’s dark coat. This almost sculptural impasto creates depth and movement, while elsewhere, the paint thins out, allowing the canvas to breathe. Look at the lower left corner, where a figure is being tossed by the bull, the colours are quickly and loosely applied. Konchalovsky’s bullfight reminds me of other painters like Soutine or Kokoschka, who captured the raw energy of life through bold brushstrokes and vibrant color. Like them, Konchalovsky embraces ambiguity, inviting us to feel the energy and emotion of the moment.