The 'Bullfighting' Universe of Baltasar Gracián

Abstract

The article begins with a brief historical contextualization of the practice and dimensión that bullfighting acquired in Gracián’s Spain, underlining the deep connections between Baroque forms and values and those of the bullfignting world (the bullfighting on horseback of the time buto also –more significantly-  the subsequent modern bullfighting on foot). The article then focuses on Gracián’s work, pointing out and evaluating not only the direct bullfighting allusions, but, above all, the astonishing affinities of Gracián’s univers with bullfighting’s terminology, concepts and strategies for social action.