photo by Annie Leibovitz
I find this photo by Annie Leibovitz so compelling that I want to share it with you, share my thoughts about it, and elicit yours.
What is Leibovitz’s intent (other than to provide a setting for Penélope Cruz)?
Here is my takeaway.
At first, it seems to be a misogynistic statement. The spectacularly dressed, beautiful woman is backed up against a stonewall, while the matador challenges her with his red cape as he would a dangerous bull.
Matadors are brutal showmen and egoists. They welcome danger, but are confident of their conquest. But Leibovitz’s matador is looking down, and although the woman is pinned against the wall, does he have her where he wants her? No, he still taunts her with the red cape thus inviting her to the challenge, and in so doing creates a sexual tension between them.
Excerpt from The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
"In bull-fighting they speak of the terrain of the bull and the terrain of the bull-fighter. As long as a bull-fighter stays in his own terrain he is comparatively safe. Each time he enters into the terrain of the bull he is in great danger. Belmonte, in his best days, worked always in the terrain of the bull. This way he gave the sensation of coming tragedy."
El mirar de la maja (The gaze of the beloved) text by Fernando Periquet (1873-1940)
¿Por qué es en mis ojos
tan hondo el mirar
que a fin de cortar
desdenes y enojos
los suelo entornar?
¿Qué fuego dentro llevarán
que si acaso con calor
los clavo en mi amor
sonrojo me dan?
Por eso el chispero
a quien mi alma dí
al verse ante mí
me tira el sombrero
y díceme así:
"Mi Maja, no me mires más
que tus ojos rayos son
y ardiendo en passion
la muerte me dan."
*****************
Because my eyes
hold such an intense gaze
in order to avoid
disdain and fighting
I tend to look away.
What fire do they carry inside,
that with only a little passion,
when I look at my lover,
they cause me to blush?
That's why this fiery man
to whom I gave my soul
when standing in front of me
tosses a [cape] my way
and says to me:
"my love, do not look at me anymore
for your eyes are lightning
and burning in desire
they give me death."
-Fernando Periquet (1873-1940)
Poem by Angel Rose
The Matador of Heartbreaks
You are a series of red flashing fabrics and I am a Matador thrusting myself into you over and over and over again I know it is nothing but pain and embarrassment and yet it’s so natural to me to proceed with these actions You are a red flag I can spot from a mile away glistening your sequins in my face and I cannot stop but ram my face into yours I know you bring me no satisfaction and I know I will never win against you in these battles and yet it’s so natural for me to hurt myself for you
-Angela Rose (April 2020)
https://hellopoetry.com/tag/matador/
Olé!
CPW
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