From the moment he was born, photography immortalized great characters your history. Thanks to these portraits, we know what the real faces of kings, politicians, scientists or artists are today. But only great photographers have been able to capture the uniqueness of a pose or face and turn a celebrity into a pop culture icon. Like it or not, there are few characters in Córdoba as photographed as bullfighting caliphs. Characters who transcend their time with the legendary Lagartijo in the 19th century or the social phenomenon El Cordobés at the end of the 20th century. Despite No right-handed person had as much visual appeal to the camera as Manolete.. His hieratic gaze had the capacity to pass through the lens and affect the overwhelming personality of a true idol in any portrait painter’s clichés. In fact, there are numerous photos of the Beast that existed from his childhood until his death. Iconic snapshots such as the famous smiling photo captured by graphic editor Ricardo of Diario Córdoba of the Prensa Ibérica group, or the historic photo of the deadly gear in Linares by the great bullfighting photographer Cano.
However, very few graphic documents exist about the Cordovan bullfighter with the breadth and depth of the document that made this fight. Madrid correspondent Martin Santos Yubero (Madrid 1903-1994) Between 1939 and 1947.
The photojournalist, one of the most outstanding Spanish professionals of the Franco regime, realized this very early on. informative interest of a unique character and he follows halfway across Spain to enliven not only his gorgeous afternoons but also his daily life.
In addition to influencing some of the big tasks for right-handers in his snapshots, Yubero also points his camera towards him. Manolete’s less public lifeaccess very intimate moments and places life of the matador.
The portrait painter captures such extraordinary scenes as train or car rides between bullfights, preparations at the hotel, seclusion in the chapel in the square, hospitalization after an important lovemaking, as well as leisure time among friends, in a cape. and at celebrations or with his family in Córdoba a soft kiss to his mother.
A report by the Diario YA correspondent in Madrid, where, like a book, the maestro came to show himself shortly before he died, and then compiled into an album like a book, just a few months after the tragic afternoon in Linares. one of the best descriptive books, in any language, to the bullfighter of Santa Marina. Titled ‘Manolete, the artist and the man’, this rare specimen is a sought-after collector’s item today, both for its visual quality and for its outstanding photographic print that brings us a little closer to the life of this overwhelming icon. she was the Manolete of her time.