''La Calavera Catrina ''("Dapper Skull") or ''Catrina'' ''La Calavera Garbancera'' ("Elegant Skull") is a 1910–1913
zinc
Zinc is a chemical element with the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. Zinc is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodic ta ...
etching
Etching is traditionally the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio (incised) in the metal. In modern manufacturing, other chemicals may be used on other types ...
by the Mexican printmaker, cartoon illustrator and
lithographer
Lithography () is a planographic method of printing originally based on the immiscibility of oil and water. The printing is from a stone (lithographic limestone) or a metal plate with a smooth surface. It was invented in 1796 by the German a ...
José Guadalupe Posada
José Guadalupe Posada Aguilar (2 February 1852 – 20 January 1913) was a Mexican political lithographer who used relief printing to produce popular illustrations. His work has influenced numerous Latin American artists and cartoonists becau ...
.
Originally a satirization of an
upper class
Upper class in modern societies is the social class composed of people who hold the highest social status, usually are the wealthiest members of class society, and wield the greatest political power. According to this view, the upper class is ge ...
woman of the
Porfiriato
, common_languages =
, religion =
, demonym =
, currency =
, leader1 = Porfirio Díaz
, leader2 = Juan Méndez
, leader3 = Porfirio Díaz
, leader4 ...
, the character of ''La Catrina'' has become an icon of the Mexican
Day of the Dead
The Day of the Dead ( es, Día de Muertos or ''Día de los Muertos'') is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality. It is widely obser ...
(
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
: ).
Cultural importance
The original leaflet was named "La Calavera Garbancera" by Posada, describing a person who was ashamed of their Native origins and dressed imitating the French style while wearing lots of makeup to make their skin look whiter.
While the original work by Posada introduced the character, the popularity of La Calavera, as well as her name, is derived from a work by artist
Diego Rivera
Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez, known as Diego Rivera (; December 8, 1886 – November 24, 1957), was a prominent Mexican painter. His large frescoes helped establish the ...
in his 1947 completed mural ''
Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda Central'' ("Dream of a Sunday afternoon along Central Alameda").
Rivera's mural was painted between the years 1946 and 1947 and is the principal work of the "Museo Mural Diego Rivera" adjacent to the Alameda in the historic center of
Mexico City
Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley of M ...
. It measures 15 meters long and stands at the end of Alameda Park. The mural survived the 1985 earthquake, which destroyed the Del Prado hotel. It was later moved across the street to the
Museo Mural Diego Rivera, built after the earthquake for the purpose of housing and displaying Rivera's restored mural.
Artistic subtext
Image
Rivera's mural depicts a culmination of 400 years of Mexico's major figures, which include himself, Posada, and
Frida Kahlo
Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón (; 6 July 1907 – 13 July 1954) was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Inspired by the country's popular culture, s ...
. Rivera took inspiration from the original etching and gave Calavera a body as well as more of an identity in her elegant outfit as she is poised between himself and Posada.
Culture
The culture of La Calavera has ties to political satire and is also a well-kept tradition as the original was inspired by the polarizing reign of dictator
Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori ( or ; ; 15 September 1830 – 2 July 1915), known as Porfirio Díaz, was a Mexican general and politician who served seven terms as President of Mexico, a total of 31 years, from 28 November 1876 to 6 Decem ...
. Díaz is lauded for modernizing and bringing financial stability to Mexico, but he also led his government in repression, corruption, and excess, and had an apparent obsession with European materialism and culture. Christine Delsol writes: "Concentration of fantastic wealth in the hands of the privileged few brewed discontent in the hearts of the suffering many, leading to the 1910 rebellion that toppled Diaz in 1911 and became the Mexican Revolution."
Folk art
Purist
''La Calavera Catrina'' today can be found in her more traditional form both in drawn works as well as sculptures made out of Oaxacan wood carvings,
paper-mâché sculptures, majolica pottery, and
barro negro black clay pottery. She is also coupled with male skeletons.
Costume
Dressing as a "Catrina" is a popular costume in
Day of the Dead
The Day of the Dead ( es, Día de Muertos or ''Día de los Muertos'') is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality. It is widely obser ...
celebrations in Mexico. Catrinas typically feature ''
calavera
A calavera (Spanish – for "skull") is a representation of a human skull. The term is most often applied to edible or decorative skulls made (usually by hand) from either sugar (called Alfeñiques) or clay, used in the Mexican celebration of t ...
'' (sugar skull) make-up. There is also a male counterpart to the Catrina, called the Catrin. They wear the same skull makeup and black clothes, either a formal suit with a top hat or a mariachi costume. A cane might also be part of the costume.
Day of the Dead
The Day of the Dead ( es, Día de Muertos or ''Día de los Muertos'') is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality. It is widely obser ...
, circa 2014.">
File:Serie Catrinas (1).jpg, Woman dressed as a Catrina
File:Niña Catrina (10).jpg, Girl dressed as a Catrina
File:Serie Catrinas (9).jpg, A Catrina
File:Serie rostros de calavera (23).jpg, Three children dressed as Catrinas
File:Serie Catrinas (13).jpg, Woman dressed as a Catrina