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''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


Gallery

File:Se te extraña.jpg, A Catrina inspired by
María Félix María de los Ángeles Félix Güereña (; 8 April 1914 – 8 April 2002) was a Mexican actress and singer. Along with Pedro Armendáriz and Dolores del Río, she was one of the most successful figures of Latin American cinema in the 1940s an ...
as part of an
ofrenda An ''ofrenda'' (Spanish: " offering") is the offering placed in a home altar during the annual and traditionally Mexican '' Día de los Muertos'' celebration. An ''ofrenda'', which may be quite large and elaborate, is usually created by the fa ...
on the
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 ...
festivities at
San Ángel San Ángel is a colonia or neighborhood of Mexico City, located in the southwest in Álvaro Obregón borough. Historically, it was a rural community, called Tenanitla in the pre-Hispanic period. Its current name is derived from the El Carmen mon ...
in November 2014 File:Selena Día de Muertos 2017.jpg, A Catrina inspired by
Selena Selena Quintanilla Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American Tejano singer. Called the " Queen of Tejano music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mexi ...
during celebrations of
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 ...
at
Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, crematory, and cultural events center which regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movie screenings. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles ...
, Los Angeles File:The Kid - Diego Rivera.jpg, Center of Diego Rivera's wide mural '' Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda Central'' ''(Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Central)'' File:Catrinas 2.jpg, Modern representations of Catrina at the Museo de la Ciudad,
León, Guanajuato () , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = State , subdivision_name1 = , established_title = Founde ...
, Mexico File:Catrina hecha con aserrin pintado.jpg, Image done in colored sawdust for ''Día de Muertos'' File:Detail of catrina face by Carlomagno Pedro Martínez.jpg, Detail of a Catrina figure in Barro negro pottery by artisan Carlomagno Pedro Martinez File:RVillena04.JPG, ''La Catrina'' in China Poblana dress, by Rodofo Villena Hernandez in Puebla


See also

*
All Saints Day All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day, the Feast of All Saints, the Feast of All Hallows, the Solemnity of All Saints, and Hallowmas, is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honour of all the saints of the church, whether they are know ...
* ''
Danse Macabre The ''Danse Macabre'' (; ) (from the French language), also called the Dance of Death, is an artistic genre of allegory of the Late Middle Ages on the universality of death. The ''Danse Macabre'' consists of the dead, or a personification of ...
'' *
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 ...
*
Death (personification) Death is frequently imagined as a personified force. In some mythologies, a character known as the Grim Reaper (usually depicted as a berobed skeleton wielding a scythe) causes the victim's death by coming to collect that person's soul. Oth ...
*
Ghosts in Mexican culture There are extensive and varied beliefs in ghosts in Mexican culture. In Mexico, the beliefs of the Maya, Nahua, Purépecha; and other indigenous groups in a supernatural world has survived and evolved, combined with the Catholic beliefs of the Spa ...
* ''
Memento mori ''Memento mori'' (Latin for 'remember that you ave todie'Santa Muerte ''Nuestra Señora de la Santa Muerte'' (; Spanish for Our Lady of Holy Death), often shortened to Santa Muerte, is a cult image, female deity, and folk saint in folk Catholicism and Mexican Neopaganism. A personification of death, she is assoc ...
*
Skeleton (undead) A skeleton is a type of physically manifested undead often found in fantasy, gothic and horror fiction, and mythical art. Most are human skeletons, but they can also be from any creature or race found on Earth or in the fantasy world. Myth and f ...


References


External links


''Calavera Catrina'' by José Guadalupe Posada in the Digital Collections of the Ibero-American Institute
{{DEFAULTSORT:Calavera Mexican culture 1913 works 20th-century etchings Fictional skeletons Holiday characters Mexican art Personifications of death Skulls in art