FRIDA KAHLO SUGAR SKULLS DAY OF THE DEAD DIGITAL OIL PAINTING OR WATERCOLOR
PHOTO PRINT 8x10
on professional semi gloss finish photo paper
Frame not include
PACKED IN A STEADY HARD ENVELOPE
MY OWN DESIGNS OF UNIQUE SUGAR SKULLS INSPIRED ON FRIDA KAHLO
AND THE DAY OF THE DEAD
Jose Guadalupe Posada's Calavera Catrina (Dapper Skeleton) was originally published as a broadside around 1910. This most fashionable calavera represents one of Jose Guadalupe Posada's most famous works of art. Diego Rivera, in fact portrayed Posada with a full length figure of 'Catrina' in his 1947 Hotel del Prado mural. "The Spanish word 'calavera' means 'skull', and by extension 'skeleton'. Jose Guadalupe Posada used his 'calavera' prints as social reportage, as manifestos and as political and social satire; in this he has been followed by numerous later graphic artists in Mexico ... This kind of print taps sources that are typically Mexican, for both the Indian heritage (skulls and death-goddesses are common in pre-Columbian art) and the Spanish heritage (the death-orientation of the monastic orders, and the dance-of-death and 'memento mori traditions) have blended in the average Mexican's stoic, but far from humorless, view of death." *
El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead),
a Mexican celebration, is a day to celebrate, remember and prepare special foods in honor of those who have departed. On this day in Mexico, the streets near the cemeteries are filled with decorations of papel picado, flowers, candy calaveras (skeletons and skulls), and parades.
It is believed that the spirit of the dead visit their families on October 31 and leave Nov 2
In order to celebrate, the families make altars and place ofrendas (offerings) of food such as pan de muertos baked in shapes of skulls and figures, candles, incense, yellow marigolds known as cempazuchitl (also spelled zempasuchil) and most importantly a PHOTO of the departed soul is placed on the altar. It might sound somewhat morbid, but the Mexicans react to death with mourning along with happiness and joy. They look at death with the same fear as any other culture, but there is a difference. They reflect their fear by mocking and living alongside death.Living alongside death means that Mexicans have to learned to accept it within their lives. Death is apparent in everyday life. It is in art and even in children's toys. It is not respected as it is in other cultures. Children play "funeral" with toys that are made to represent coffins and undertakers. Death is laughed at in its face. Many euphemisms are used for death, La calaca (the skeleton), la pelona ("baldy"), la flaca ("skinny"), and la huesada ("bony"). There are refranes, sayings, and poems that are popular with day of the dead. These sayings are cliches and lose meaning when translated. For example "La muerte es flaca y no puede conmigo" means "Death is skinny/weak and she can't carry me." Calaveras (skulls) are decorated with bright colors with the name of the departed inscribed on the head. Children carrying yellow marigolds enjoy the processions to the cemetery. At the cemetery, music is played and dances are made to honor the spirits.