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 Jose 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 colour illustrations, Retratos invites readers to appreciate Latin American portraits and their many meanings as never before. This book is the catalogue for the first exhibition of Latin American portraiture ever organized in the United States. The exhibition is on view at El Museo del Barrio, New York (December 3, 2004 to March 20, 2005); the San Diego Museum of Art (April 16 to June 12, 2005); the Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach (July 23 to October 2, 2005); the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian, Washington, D.C. (October 21, 2005, to January 8, 2006); and the San Antonio Museum of Art (February 4 to April 30, 2006).
