From Casta Paintings to the combating Art of Postmodernity:
dialogues between the traditional and the works of Kara Walker
Throughout recorded history in the Americas, visual art has consistently depicted stereotypical imagery of Black women. For instance, commissioned by Spanish and Creole elites in eighteenth century Mexico, Casta Paintings were made to illustrate ideologies of racial hierarchy, a necessary condition to sustain imperial order. These paintings were specially made for the comfort of Spanish and Creole elites, to “enlighten” and amuse their audience with classifications that defined the socioeconomic class and race of the “exotic”. In the Casta paintings, scenes of violence often times included the presence of black women, either being the victims of, or those behaving violently. However, unlike the Casta paintings, many contemporary artists intentionally scrutinize race relations, similar to those represented in the Casta Paintings. African American artist Kara Walker resists the representations of race, gender, s*xuality and identity previously discussed in systems of colonialism. Through the use of genteel art, using life sized scale paper cutout in monochromatic contrasts between black shapes against white walls, Walker’s work becomes a catalyst for agency at describing factual taboos in history uncovered as reality. Comparing and contrasting the representations of black woman’s race, gender, s*xuality and identity in traditional Casta paintings, and the methods and content of Kara Walker’s work offers a controversial and provocative response as it speaks directly to the previous depictions of black women.
Posted by Nakeisha Gumbs
Posted By: Daniel Moss
Thursday, October 29th 2009 at 2:28PM
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