Page 136 - YGARTUA: Magnum Opus - volume two

De Toros: The Bull is the national

animal and the unofficial symbol

of Spain. It is a symbol of level-

headedness, stamina, provision, fertility, the most famous Rastra de Piedra showing

stability, virility, strength, determination and the strength and endurance of the bull and

confidence. The spectacle of the bullfight nearby was the Running of the Bulls in

is not a mere sport. The event is not only Pamplona. Bulls have always been part of life

culturally significant but also a fine art in in the Basque Country and Spain. Bullfighting

which the bullfighter elicits emotion through has always been an important subject for

the act of the fight. many artists, wherever they come from. As

many people still do look at the matador and

If you have grown up part of your life in the the bullfight as an art form, whether it be

Basque Country, your Father Basque, then the death of the matador or the bull, it is a

you will experience the interest in the customs spectacle, a performance of great agility and

and the traditions and the importance of the strength, the costumes, the cape, the glorious

bull. Paul’s fascination with the bull started colour, become an interesting subject.

at a very early age as his Father came from

a fishing village (close to Bilbao) surrounded The famous Caves of Altamira and Paleolithic

by farmland and his Grandfather, in the early Cave Art of Northern Spain (close to Gorliz)

30’s,bought half the mountain, just above the which Paul visited in the early 50’s, cave

beautiful seaside village of Gorliz. The bull paintings of some of the oldest artistic

was a working animal and Paul was often endeavors of mankind, portraying the bull

helping out on the farm and frequently took and man’s fight for survival over beasts. The

the bulls into the fields to graze. Paleolithic paintings and other primitive art

The bull is very prevalent at the Basque were deeply influential in the attraction and

Fiestas participating in the traditional games, artistic interest to pursue this subject matter.

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