October 31, 2013

Catrinas















La Calavera Catrina ('Dapper Skeleton', 'Elegant Skull') is a famous 1910-1913 zinc etching by Mexican printmaker, cartoon illustrator and lithographer Jose Guadalupe Posada. The image depicts a female skeleton dressed in a hat befitting only the upper class of a European outfit of her time. Her chapeau originally is related to French and European styles of the early 20th century. She is meant to portray a Mexican satirization Of Those natives who, Posada felt, were over embracing European traditions of the aristocracy in the pre-revolutionary era. She in particular has Become an icon of the Mexican Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead Mexican Celebration.

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