Embedded Files
Las Castas, artist unknown, 18th century, Mexico
Las Castas, artist unknown, 18th century, Mexico
Produced from the early 1800s until the first decade of the nineteenth century, casta paintings were usually created in sets of sixteen, with each scene comprised of a man and woman of differing races along with their progeny. Casta paintings have sometimes been interpreted as souvenirs for Spanish audiences. The inclusion of local foodstuffs, flora, and fauna in many of these images suggests that they were celebrations of colonial prosperity. The genre has also been linked to the Enlightenment impulse to classify for purposes of scientific and anthropological study. More recent scholarship, however, has noted that the paintings were created for local residents as well as Spanish viewers back in Europe, and argued that socio-political concerns were a greater factor in the creation of casta paintings than scientific interest in categorization and lineage.
EXPLANATIONS OF DESCRIPTIONS:
Spanish man and Indian woman = Mestizo (mixed/half-blood)
Mestizo man and Spanish woman = Castizo (“pure” blood, 3/4+ Spanish)
Castizo man and Spanish woman = Spanish
Spanish man and Moorish woman = Mulatto (literally, “mule” mixed, usually Amerindian and African)
Mulatto man and Spanish woman = Morisco (Moor)
Morisco man and Spanish woman = Chino (derived from the word “cochino” which means pig; mixed, usually Amerindian and African with light-skin)
Chino man and Indian woman = Salta atrás (literally, “a jump backwards”)
Salta atrás man and Mulatto woman = Lobo (literally, “wolf”)
Lobo man and Chino woman = Gíbaro (wild, mountain man)
Gíbaro man and Mulatto woman = Albarazado (traditionally, a Spanish-Arab term used derogatively to describe a pale person—but eventually used to label a person of Spanish-African origin)
Albarazado man and African woman = Canbujo (reddish black male)
Canbujo man and Indian woman = Sanbaigo (literally, “this mix”)
Sanbaigo man and Loba = Calpamulato (also “this mix”)
Calpamulato man and Canbuja (reddish black female) = Tente en el Aire (literally, “wolf hold yourself in mid-air”)
Tente en el Aire man and Mulatto woman = No te entiendo (literally, “I do not understand you”)
No te entiendo man and Indian woman = Torna atrás (literally, “turn back”)
Short Answer Question
A. Identify and explain ONE cause for the social system illustrated in the painting.
B. Identify and explain ONE economic consequence for the social system illustrated in the painting.
C. Identify and describe another historically relevant society before 1450 C.E. that utilizes a similar structure as the social system illustrated in the painting.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse