A group of matadors and attendants gather in the shaded entrance of a bullring, preparing for the spectacle ahead. To the right, two horses stand alert, their pale coats rendered with broad, visible brushstrokes that suggest the play of light across their bodies. A mounted figure in a wide-brimmed hat sits above the horses, his face in shadow, while another man stands silhouetted at the far left, partly obscured by darkness.

At the center, a cluster of men in elaborate, colorful costumes—some in gold, blue, or crimson—converse and adjust their attire, their black montera hats marking them as bullfighters. One attendant in a vivid red jacket crouches to tie the shoe of a matador, a gesture that adds a note of tension and anticipation to the scene. Beyond the archway, sunlight floods the arena, illuminating a crowd of spectators who lean over the railings, their white hats and parasols creating a lively patchwork of color.

The composition is framed by the dark curve of the arch, which separates the cool, shadowed foreground from the bright, bustling stands in the distance. Sorolla uses loose, energetic brushwork throughout, especially in the depiction of clothing and the sandy ground, where colors blend and edges dissolve, conveying movement and atmosphere. Details such as the glint of gold embroidery, the folds of capes, and the expressive gestures of the figures reveal a moment of intense focus and ritual.

A figure in a brown shirt stands in deep shadow at the left edge, his head bowed and hands occupied with an unseen task. The upper right corner is dominated by a broad expanse of warm, ochre-toned wall, roughly brushed with visible streaks and patches of bare canvas. The sunlight falls sharply across the threshold, casting the foreground figures into partial silhouette while highlighting the vivid colors of their costumes.

Loose, sketch-like lines define the horses' legs and tails, with some contours dissolving into the background, emphasizing movement and immediacy. In the upper left, the crowded stands are rendered with dabs of pastel and white, suggesting faces, hats, and parasols in a blur of festive color.