Dance of the Banderillas 1954

The bullfight was a subject Picasso returned to frequently, particularly after the mid-1950s. In this print, the banderillero, whose task is to wound the bull by driving darts into its neck or shoulders, is transformed into a young woman. Her prey is an older man carrying a bull's head mask who kneels in front of her, as if in submission. The fight between man and bull becomes an ironic metaphor for the battle of the sexes at a time when Picasso was becoming particularly aware of his own ageing. Gallery label, August 2004