La Catrina: Mexico's grande dame of death
- Born of revolution. La Catrina as we know her originated with Jose Guadalupe Posada, considered the father of Mexican printmaking.
- Lineage begins with the Aztecs. "La Catrina has been iterated over time," de la Torre said. ...
- Grande dame of death. ...
What role does La Catrina play?
“La Catrina has become the referential image of Death in Mexico, it is common to see her embodied as part of the celebrations of Day of the Dead throughout the country; she has become a motive for the creation of handcrafts made from clay or other materials, her representations may vary, as well as the hat.”
What does La Catrina represent?
La Catrina was originally created by Jose Guadalupe Posada and later named and painted dressed up by Diego Rivera in one of his murals. It became an iconic figure in Mexican culture representing death and the way Mexicans face it .
What does the Catrina represent?
What does Catrina mean? “Catrina has come to symbolize not only El Día de los Muertos and the Mexican willingness to laugh at death itself, but originally catrina was an elegant or well-dressed woman, so it refers to rich people,” de la Torre said.
What does La Calavera Catrina stand for?
La Calavera Catrina or Catrina La Calavera Garbancera ('Dapper Skeleton', 'Elegant Skull') is a 1910–1913 zinc etching by the Mexican printmaker, cartoon illustrator and lithographer José Guadalupe Posada. La Catrina has become an icon of the Mexican Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
Why is Catrina important?
Mexico's lady of death, La Catrina, is José Guadalupe Posada's most famous character. It is a reminder to enjoy life and embrace mortality.
Who is La Catrina What does she symbolize what is her role in Day of the Dead celebrations?
There is no mistaking her identity, La Catrina is 100% Mexican! She is a strong visual image depicting how the Mexican people see death and the afterlife. Different cultures have diverse traditions in regards to death and how they deal with it individually and as a family.
What is the original purpose of La Catrina before she became a symbol of El Día de los Muertos?
Posada's original sketch of La Calavera Catrina was made around 1910. It was designed to be a satire referencing the high-society European obsessions of leader Porfirio Diaz, whose corruption led to the Mexican Revolution of 1911, and the toppling of his regime.
What is the origin of La Catrina?
La Catrina specifically was created in the early 1910s by Mexican political cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada. According to Dr. Canto, Posada frequently used the elegantly dressed skeletons to criticize the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz and the upper classes that supported him during the Mexican Revolution.
What is the Calavera Catrina?
It was designed to be a satire referencing the high-society European obsessions of leader Porfirio Diaz, whose corruption led to the Mexican Revolution of 1911, and the toppling of his regime.
When was La Calavera Catrina drawn?
The original cartoon of La Calavera Catrina, by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada. It is thought to have been drawn around 1910 , as the Mexican Revolution was gathering steam. Photograph by José Guadalupe Posada.
What is the symbol of Dia de los Muertos?
The elegant skull has become a festive symbol of the Dia de los Muertos – but its original inception was a statement of more than just the inevitability of death. A La Catrina Calavera is a ubiquitous image during Day of the Dead – in costumes, food, paintings and dolls, like this one.
Who was the Queen of the Dead?
The Dame of the Dead. La Catrina was not Latin America’s first grand lady of the afterlife. This honour belongs to Mictēcacihuātl – the queen of the Aztec underworld of Chicunamictlan. Her role was to watch over the bones of the dead, and her presence was front-and-centre during any recognition of those who had passed on.
Who was the photographer of the Cavalera of the Morbid Cholera?
view more. 'The Cavalera of the Morbid Cholera" was one of Posada's newspaper sketches. Photograph by Antonio Vanegas Arroyo / US Library of Congress. Another of Posada's 'calaveras' images depicts a volcanic eruption in 1899. Photograph by Antonio Vanegas Arroyo / US Library of Congress.
What did Pablo Posada do?
Posada, who was born in Mexico in 1852, would create cartoonish lithographs and engravings to satirically illustrate political and societal issues ; his work was frequently published in the Mexican press.
What is a catrina?
La Catrina is a popular tourist fascination and can be found in statue form in many local stores throughout Mexico made of wood, clay, or papier maché. These are eloquently painted and real feathers added to the hats. Many people purchase these statues and bring them back as souvenirs of their times spent in Mexico.
Where is the La Catrina mural?
The mural can be seen in the Diego Rivera Mural Museum in Mexico City . Very well worth the visit if you are ever in Mexico City! From there, La Catrina became a strong symbol for the numerous Day of the Dead activities. Women paint their faces in colorful make-up and dress with elegant outfits evoking the famous symbolic skeleton.
Why did the Mexicans draw the skeleton?
It is said that he drew the dandy-looking female skeleton with a fancy feathered hat because some Mexicans had aspirations to look wealthy and aristocratic like the Europeans at that time. A satirical drawing to remind people to be themselves and to stop trying to be something that they weren’t.
What is the Mexican holiday that celebrates the death of a person?
One of the most recognized yearly events that is celebrated throughout Mexico is Día de los Muertos. This celebration is rich in rituals and expresses the unique and exceptional relationship that Mexicans have with death and with their ancestors.
What did Posada say about death?
This was Posada’s message with his many caricatures of cavaleras sketched doing various daily activities. One of his most popular sayings was “Death is democratic”.
Why is Mexico worth visiting?
The country is worth visiting for many reasons; like its extraordinary culinary distinctiveness, archeological sights, and also for its diversity of festivals. Mexico has many local customs that are typical to specific areas of the country, but some deep-rooted traditions and events are celebrated throughout the country.
Is La Catrina Mexican?
There is no mistaking her identity, La Catrina is 100% Mexican! She is a strong visual image depicting how the Mexican people see death and the afterlife. Different cultures have diverse traditions in regards to death and how they deal with it individually and as a family.
What does La Catrina represent?
Even though La Catrina´s meaning was more about political criticism in her beginning, she has now become an essential icon to celebrate “El Día de Muertos” representing Mexico´s culture and our particular way to honor all the people that are no longer with us.
What is the story behind La Catrina and the Day of the Dead?
The Story Behind La Catrina and the Day of the Dead. While the Day of the Dead celebrations are still fresh in our minds, we would like to tell you the story behind La Catrina and the Day of the Dead. Every time we celebrate El Día de Muertos in Mexico is a new opportunity to enjoy life to the fullest by putting on a costume and going to ...
What was Diego Rivera's first catrina?
He added elegant clothes, fine bearing and some items associated with high society. After that, Diego Rivera named her Catrina. You can see the first Catrina he ever painted in his mural “Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central,” or “Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Central”. Years passed and the image ...
What is the Catrina costume?
La Catrina has become a symbol of Mexico and its traditions, especially for honoring and celebrating our faithful departed. Many people wear this skeleton- looking costume with make-up and a hat, and even a pashmina. It’s a great costume, whether you are celebrating Halloween or Día de Muertos. If you don´t know La Catrina or haven´t seen anybody ...
What did José Guadalupe Posada use to illustrate his short stories?
For his stories, he used the name “Calavera Garbancera.”. This Calaveras Garbanceras represented the people, but not all the people, exactly.
Who was the first cartoonist to criticize society and politicians?
José Guadalupe Posada, better known as the artist of the people, was a famous Mexican cartoonist for newspapers. He was the first one to criticize society and politicians, exposing all the situations of inequality and injustice at that time.
What is La Catrina?
It started from the iconographic image that José Guadalupe Posada created in his caricatures at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, in which he portrayed the everyday life that progressively became related to the Day of the Dead (celebrated on November 1st and 2nd).
A Mexican tradition of life and death
The mixture of pre-Hispanic traditions and the Catholic tradition, with the later North American influence and the artistic needs to express the popular discontent against those in power, made the Day of the Dead the propitious and necessary environment for the catrinas to find their strength, being a conjunction between the divine and the profane in which those who make the offerings only wish peace for the fallen and justice for their lives..
The tradition nowadays
Since the Day of the Dead was named a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, both the Mexican government and its citizens inside and outside of Mexico have kept the tradition intact, teaching it in its true value to people from other cultures.
Who created La Catrina?
La Catrina, however, is not Mictecacihuatl—it is, instead, the creation of Mexican illustrator José Guadalupe Posada. Posada, born in Mexico in 1852, was a satirical cartoonist who would often compose lithographs and engravings of cartoonish representations of political and societal figures. The most identifiable element ...
What is the Catrina sketch?
Posada’s original sketch of La Catrina first appeared around 1910, a satirical reference to the cultural appropriation of the European-obsessed leader Porfirio Díaz, whose regime was toppled soon after, following the lead-up to the Mexican Revolution of 1911. This image, of a skull festooned with traditionally European garb, ...
What is the name of the lady of the dead?
La Calavera Catrina: Mexico’s Lady of the Dead. Often referred to as the Grande Dame of Death, La Calavera Catrina (the “elegant skull”)—or, simply, La Catrina—is frequently seen throughout the streets of Mexico during the Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos, celebrations.
Who was the first lady of the dead?
The very first appearance of the Lady of the Dead in Mexico dates back to the Aztec Goddess Mictecacihuatl (Mitcal) —known as the Queen of the Underworld of Chicunamictlan. In addition to protecting the bones of the dead, her presence was at the heart of gatherings to recognize those who had passed away.
What is the Catrina mural?
La Catrina is portrayed as a fine dressed lady inspired by Posadas’s earlier version. Her inclusion into the mural is meant to symbolize her noteworthy presence in Mexico’s culture and to reflect the comfort with which Mexicans embrace death. La Calavera Catrina today is portrayed in all mediums and forms: from food, crafts, art, to fashion.
When was La Calavera Catrina created?
José Guadalupe Posada’s etching of “La Calavera Catrina,”created around 1910-1913; originally known as “La Calavera Garbancera.”. Her second appearance in mexican culture is a version much closer to our modern day Calavera Catrina.
What is the name of the Mexican icon who is famous for her sugar skull candies?
La Calavera Catrina: Her origins and who she is today. La Calavera Catrina is a quintessential Mexican icon. Her image can be found on just about everything now days, from five inch stilettos to traditional Mexican sugar skull candies. La Calavera Catrina is often referred to as Mexico’s Grand Dame of Death. The first appearance of the Lady of ...
Who is the Lady of Death?
La Calavera Catrina is often referred to as Mexico’s Grand Dame of Death. The first appearance of the Lady of Death in Mexico dates back to the Aztec Goddess Mictecacihuatl (Mitcal)–Queen of the Underworld. She protects the bones of the dead and presides over death festivals like the modern day Dia De los Muertos.
Who created the Calavera Catrina?
She was created by José Guadalupe Posada in an etching called “ La Calavera Catrina,” created around 1910-1913; originally known as “ La Calavera Garbancera .”. She was created as a satirical image. The artist aimed to mock the indigenous Mexicans who imitated European style.
What is the Mexican mascot for Dia de los Muertos?
For the many Mexicans who still celebrate El Dia De Los Muertos in its traditional form, La catrina represents the honoring of passed loved ones.
