Retratos: 2,000 Years of Latin American Portraits

by Marion Oettinger Jr., Miguel A. Bretos, Carolyn Kinder Carr, Elizabeth P. Benson (Contribution by), Christopher B. Donnan (Contribution by)

Overview

The tradition of portraiture in Latin America is astonishingly long and rich. For over 2,000 years, portraits have been used to preserve the memory of the deceased, bolster the social standing of the aristocracy, mark the deeds of the mighty, advance the careers of politicians, record rites of passage, and mock symbols of the status quo. This beautiful and wide-ranging book—the first to explore the tradition of portraiture in Latin America from pre-Columbian times to the present day—features some 200 works from fifteen countries.

Retratos (Portraits) presents an engaging variety of works by such well-known figures as Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Fernando Botero, and José Campeche as well as stunning examples by anonymous and obscure artists. Distinguished contributors discuss the significance of portraits in ancient Mayan civilizations, in the world of colonial Iberians, in the political struggles of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and in a remarkable range of other times and locations.

With a wealth of informative details and exquisite color illustrations, Retratos invites readers to appreciate Latin American portraits and their many meanings as never before.

Published in association with the San Antonio Museum of Art; The National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; and the El Museo del Barrio

Exhibition Schedule:

Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach (July 23 to October 2, 2005)

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian, Washington, D.C. (October 21, 2005, to January 8, 2006)

San Antonio Museum of Art (February 4 to April 30, 2006)

San Diego Museum of Art (April 16 to June 12, 2005)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780300106275
Publisher:	Yale University Press
Publication date:	10/11/2004
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	9.75(w) x 12.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Marion Oettinger, Jr., is senior curator and curator of Latin American art at the
San Antonio Museum of Art; Miguel A. Bretos is senior scholar at the National
Portrait Gallery, Washington; Carolyn Kinder Carr is deputy director and chief
curator at the National Portrait Gallery, Washington. Contributors to the book
include Elizabeth P. Benson; Christopher B. Donnan; Kirsten Hammer; María
Concepción García Sáiz; Renato González Mello; Luis Pérez-Oramas;
Luis-Martín Lozano; and Teodoro Vidal.

Editorial Reviews

With the ability to stand on its own after the traveling exhibition of the same name runs its course in April 2006, this catalog presents the first overview of Latin American portraiture, featuring the work of such greats as Diego Rivera, Fernando Botero, Frida Kahlo, and many others. Though its emphasis is Mexico, it contains over 200 representative works from 15 countries and explores the region's long tradition of variation in the genre. Organized chronologically, the book covers roughly 2000 years, spanning the colonial or viceregal period, independence, modern, and contemporary eras. Carolyn Kinder Carr's opening essay nicely contrasts the differences and similarities between North American and Latin American approaches to portraiture, providing an excellent introduction to the subject. Six chronological chapters cover consecutive time periods and as many as three essays. Each section begins with a comprehensive overview essay written by a specialist from Latin America, Spain, or the United States. Recommended for portraiture and Latin American collections.-Rebecca Tolley-Stokes, Sherrod Lib., East Tennessee State Univ. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

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