José Arrué was born in 1885 in Bilbao, Spain, and became one of the leading painters of Basque life and character, noted for his intuitive depictions of regional types. José Arrué trained in Bilbao and continued his studies in Barcelona, Paris, and Milan before returning to the Basque Country in 1908. That same year, he began teaching figure drawing at the School of Arts and Crafts in Bilbao and collaborated in founding the magazine El Coiteao.

In 1909, José Arrué’s enthusiasm for bullfighting led him to take part in eight novilladas, making his debut in Bilbao on October 17, where contemporary reviews noted his capable performance. During these years, he also began to establish himself as an artist, holding several exhibitions in...