Race and Mexican Art of the Late Colonial and Early National Periods

When speaking of race in Mexican art, specifically, in the art produced before 1900, we must begin by recognizing three things: the stratified social structure of Mexican society, its intersection with the nation’s racially diverse population, specifically as seen in central New Spain/Mexico, and the role of, first, imperial and later, national politics in the definition and representation of race. If considering the relationship between race and art production in Mexico City, a leading question then becomes: are we looking at the art produced BY Indigenous and Black artists or are we examining the representation of these subjects IN art? These are two very important yet different questions that communicate distinct things about the role of artists and patrons in art production, the kinds of art forms produced and the subjects depicted, and the circulation and reception of art. In this talk, I will focus on a transitional period in Mexican art history, 1750-1850, and explore the role of the Academy of San Carlos in shaping Mexican art production. By looking at the academy in Mexico City during this period, we can trace how the image of the Indian was transformed and the Black subject gradually erased as the colonial period came to an end and independent Mexico emerged.