Painting in the Americas: Origins and Early Development in Latin America

The history of painting in Latin America is a rich and complex tapestry, interwoven with ancestral traditions, the impact of European conquest and colonization, and the slow emergence of its own voice. To understand it, it is essential to look beyond the arrival of Europeans and recognize the vigor of pre-Columbian artistic expressions.

Pre-Columbian Roots

Long before 1492, various civilizations developed sophisticated forms of pictorial expression. Although easel painting, as known in the West, did not exist, color and drawing were fundamental.

• Mural Painting: Civilizations such as the Maya (at sites like Bonampak, with their narrative murals detailing battles and ceremonies), the Teotihuacans (in Mexico), and the Mochicas (in Peru) created vibrant frescoes and murals, using mineral and vegetable pigments. These works were not merely decorative; They had religious, political, and historical functions, serving to communicate myths, rituals, and the power of rulers.

· Codices and Painted Ceramics: The Aztecs and Mayans produced codices (folded books) with pictograms and painted narratives. Ceramics, especially in Andean cultures such as Nazca, Moche, and Chimu, were an essential canvas, presenting scenes of daily life, deities, and highly complex geometric patterns. Body painting was also an ephemeral but significant art form.

The Impact of the Conquest and the Colonial Period

The arrival of the Spanish and Portuguese represented a violent rupture, but also the beginning of a long process of cultural syncretism. Painting was a fundamental tool in the evangelizing project.

• The Cusco School of Painting (Escola Cuzqueña): In the viceroyalties of Peru and New Spain (Mexico), schools of painting emerged that mixed European techniques and styles (mainly Mannerism and Baroque) with indigenous sensibilities, materials, and iconography. The Cusco School in Peru is the most emblematic example. Indigenous and mestizo artists, often anonymous, created religious works where saints and madonnas could wear Andean costumes (Virgin of Cerro de Potosí), angels appeared with indigenous features, and local flora and fauna were incorporated into biblical scenes. The abundant use of gold and intense colors is a trademark.

• New Spain and Notable Artists: In Mexico, painters such as Cristóbal de Villalpando and Juan Correa stood out, adapting European Baroque with their own grandeur and drama. Later, Miguel Cabrera, a mixed-race painter of the 18th century, became one of the most celebrated artists of the colony, known for his portraits of Saint Gertrude and for his caste paintings (representations of racial mixing in colonial society).

Colonial Brazil: Under Portuguese influence, painting in colonial Brazil was closely linked to the ornamentation of churches and monasteries. Baroque-Rococo flourished, especially in Minas Gerais during the Gold Cycle. The main name of this period is Mestre Ataíde (1762-1830), a mulatto painter and gilder whose works, such as the ceiling of the Church of São Francisco de Assis in Ouro Preto, exhibit a peculiar color and grace, with mixed-race angels and a palette of soft colors.

Characteristics and Legacy

Latin American colonial painting was not a mere passive copy. It developed unique characteristics:

Syncretism: The fusion of European, indigenous, and, in the case of Brazil, African cultural elements.

• Didactic Narrative: It served to educate a largely illiterate population in the dogmas of the Catholic faith.

• Original Iconography: The creation of new symbols and representations, such as the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico, whose image synthesizes Catholic and indigenous beliefs.

• Expressive Use of Color and Gold: Resources that went beyond ornamentation, laden with spiritual meaning and power.

Conclusion The early paintings of Latin America tell a story of resistance, adaptation, and creativity. From the walls of Mayan temples to the gilded altarpieces of colonial churches, the artists, many of them anonymous and of diverse origins, forged a unique visual language. This period laid the groundwork for Latin American artists in the 19th and 20th centuries to seek their own national identities and, subsequently, revolutionize international modern art. Studying these origins is fundamental to understanding the depth and richness of the region's artistic tradition.

Latamarte