César Rincón in the bullfighting ring 1136091600

César Rincón in the bullfighting ring

The matador César Rincón guides a wounded bull. The bull, its head down low to th e ground, charges the red cape held by the matador.

César Rincón is Colombia's, and perhaps Latin America's, most celebrated living matador. He is famous for his classic strategy and technique that recalls the traditional style of bullfighting. In this image the bullfight is approaching its final stages. The bull, wounded by several lances, rushes the red cape held by Rincón, as the matador nonchalantly draws the bull past him.

Bullfighting was brought to the New World from Spain during the colonial period. It is a highly-ritualized sport that still retains its popularity in Colombia. While increasingly termed a bloodsport and criticized by animal-rights activists, practitioners argue the sport is an important cultural institution.

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