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How did Juan Belmonte transform the art of bullfighting?

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Julian Lopez El Juli, dressed in a blue and gold bullfighter costume, faces a charging bull while holding a pink and yellow cape in a sandy bullring in Barcelona. — bullfighting Spanish matador El Juli engaging a bull, June 6, 2010, Barcelona.

Juan Belmonte revolutionized bullfighting by fundamentally shifting the focus of the spectacle from the final kill to the artistry of the performance.12

Before his career, which spanned from 1910 to 1935, the primary objective of a matador was to prepare the bull for a swift sword thrust. Belmonte transformed this by introducing a style characterized by extreme proximity and stillness. He stood erect and nearly motionless, working much closer to the bull’s horns than previous matadors had dared. Rather than using footwork to evade the animal, he utilized skillful capework to divert the bull’s charge, allowing the horns to pass inches from his body.23

This approach emphasized the matador's grace, daring, and ability to master the animal, making the kill secondary to the display of courage. His influence was so profound that it redefined the standards of the profession, leading audiences to appreciate the arte de torero as a contest of skill and nerve. His impact was such that several matadors were killed attempting to imitate his dangerous, close-range technique.12