papercut
- Museum number
- Am1990,08.529.a-h
- Description
-
Papercut; cut with chisel from tissue paper; design shows, from top, skeleton monk with hands crossed over chest, "EL MONCE" written below, skeleton singer with microphone in right hand, sombrero in left, "EL ARTISTA" written below, skeleton guitar player, left foot on stool, "EL GUITARISTA" written below, skeleton woman dancing, "LA POBLANA" written below, two skeletons carrying coffin with two skulls and bottle on top, front one holding candle, back one holding bottle, priest walking behind, "EL CEPELIO" written below; sides scalloped; row of open rounded triangles along bottom border; a) template; b) multiple white; c) yellow; d) multiple red; e) multiple fuchsia; f) multiple purple; g) multiple black; h) multiple green. Used in Day of the Dead Festival.
- Production date
- 1980s
- Dimensions
-
Height: 354 centimetres
-
Width: 48 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- This type of papercutting is focused especially in San Salvador Huixcolotla. Artists from other areas have copied this style, but San Salvador Huixcolotla remains the centre, with key families such as the Vivancos and the Rojas carrying on the tradition. See Carmichael, Elizabeth and Sayer, Chloë. The Skeleton at the Feast, The Day of the Dead in Mexico. London: British Museum Press, 1991 pp. 101-107 for description of papercutting in San Salvador Huixcolotla; Fig. 107 p. 103 shows Maurilio Rojas at work.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
Used in "Papier Mâché" section of Skeleton at the Feast exhibition.
- Associated events
- Used at: Day of the Dead
- Acquisition date
- 1990
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Am1990,08.529.a-h
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: 1990 Am8 945