I first saw examples of “Casta” paintings or race...

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10:01 am - Thu, Jan 5, 2012: 14 notes

I first saw examples of “Casta” paintings or race paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries in a huge show in San Antonio: ”3000 Years of Mexican Art” back in 1990. They were onerous and touching and tragic and fascinating all at the same time. What struck me then was how nearly all of the casta paintings showed affection between the members of the family. Which despite the calumnies of the Black Legend, and the blatant racism of the pictures, is nonetheless a tribute to the compassion of Hispanic culture. It would be inconceivable until the mid 20th century that other European or Anglo American artists could even represent people of color in any such loving attitude between races, except perhaps in a subservient adoring role as caregiver for a child, or perhaps a lackey to a saint or soldier. The people in the casta paintings are people. That’s very rare in Western Art, that people of color are considered people, and not props or property or sidekicks.