Day of the Dead
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday observed throughout Mexico and in other parts of the world. On November 1st and 2nd, the spirits of the dead are believed to return home and spend time with loved ones. The rituals of Día de los Muertos combine Catholic and pre-Hispanic traditions and symbolism, including the building of communal altars called ofrendas, processions, and representations of skeletons.
Día de los Muertos has had a profound impact on popular visual arts and entertainment in Latin America. The skeletons depict various Mexican caricatures and historical figures first made popular by graphic artist José Guadalupe Posada in the late 19th-early 20th c.
The most famous of these is La Catrina, an elaborately dressed woman wearing a large-brimmed hat. Such figures serve as reminders that death affects everyone, regardless of background. Many of the sculptures were produced by the famous Linares family of Mexico City, who are renowned for their papier-mâché works (cartonerìa). The ceramic pieces are from another important artistic center, Capula, in Michoacán, Mexico.
We thank our partners, the Mexican Cultural Center and Televisa Univision, and Visual Artist and SJU Professor, Marta Sanchez. the Maguire Art Museum celebrates Day of the Day.
Artwork: Catrina, 20th c., Artist unknown, Ceramic Sculpture