Luis Jiménez Aranda

LUIS JIMÉNEZ ARANDA (Seville, 1845 - Pontoise, France, 1928).
"Bullfighter", c. 1870.
Graphite on paper.
Signed in the lower right corner.
Measurements:42 x 28, 44.5 x40.5 x 2.
This drawing by Luis Jiménez Aranda represents a man dressed in a traditional bullfighting-inspired costume, in a relaxed posture but full of character. The technique used, based on graphite on paper, denotes a sure and detailed stroke, highlighting the expression of confidence in the character's face, as well as the texture of the costume and the folds of the fabric. The lighting and shading reflect a mastery of chiaroscuro, while the background is barely outlined, suggesting a context without distracting from the protagonist.
The elegant line and the emphasis on details make this drawing dialogue directly with "The Boatman", another work by the same author and belonging to the collection of the art dealer Goupil. In "El barquero", Jiménez Aranda portrays a man in an introspective attitude, focused on his daily activity, while here the character seems more aware of his presence with respect to the viewer. Both works, however, share Jiménez Aranda's technical virtuosity, his interest in human figures and his ability to convey emotions through drawing.
Luis Jiménez Aranda began his training with his brothers José and Manuel. He then continued his studies at the Academia de Bellas Artes Santa Isabel de Hungría in Seville, where his teacher was Eduardo Cano de la Peña. In 1867 he went to Rome to broaden his knowledge, and in 1876 he settled in Pontoise, near Paris, finally becoming a French citizen. Throughout his career he took part in various official exhibitions both in France and Spain, and was also awarded a prize at the Universal Exposition in Chicago (1893). He also took part in the Paris Salons and participated in the National Exhibitions of Fine Arts in Madrid, where he obtained an honorable mention in 1864 and first medal in 1892, with the work "La visita del médico" (The Doctor's Visit). This same canvas earned him the great medal of honor at the Universal Exposition of Paris in 1889. He specialized in the historical genre, although he also made costumbrist works, always with a veristic style where the importance of the drawing stands out, as a result of the influence of his brother José. Luis Jiménez Aranda is represented in the Prado Museum, the Meadows Museum of the Southern Methodist University in Dallas and the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, among other institutions, as well as in various private collections.