Casta Paintings Defining Race and Gender Relations in

Casta Paintings Defining Race and Gender Relations in Colonial Latin America

Origins of “Casta” • Casta is an Iberian word (Spanish, Portuguese) meaning “lineage”, “breed” or “race. ” • During the Spanish colonial period, Spaniards developed a caste (class) system based on race, which determined a person’s importance and role in society.

Defining castas in Latin America • During the conquest of the Americas, most people fell into four distinct ethnic/racial groups: Peninsular Spaniards, Creoles, Native Americans, and Africans. • By the early 17 th century, these categories broke down quickly and new castas (classes) were being defined. Some estimates place the total number of castas in use in colonial Latin America at sixty or more.

Casta paintings generally appear in groups of 16 portraits that trace the complex racial mixing of the people in New Spain.

Casta Paintings • Casta paintings are part of the 18 th century artistic tradition of Colonial Mexico. • Each painting depicts a couple along with one or two children. • An inscription describing the ethnic and racial make up of the mother, the father, and the child(ren) is usually apparent.

How to Analyze Casta Paintings What Do You See? • Who is in the painting? • What are they doing? • What are they wearing? • How does their environment look? What Do Observations Mean? • Are the males & females doing similar or different things? • Do actions depend on race? • Do clothing & environments change depending on race & class?

#1 - Spaniard & Native Create Mestizo

#2 - Spaniard & Mestiza Create Castiza

#3 - African & Spaniard Create Mulatto

#4 - Mestizo & Indian Create Coyote

#5 - Mulatto & Spaniard Create Morisco

#6 - Spaniard & Morisca Create Albino

#7 - Spaniard & Albino Create Black-Return. Backwards

#8 - African & Indian Create Wolf

#9 - Wolf & Indian Create Zambaiga

#10 – Zambaigo & Indian Create Albarazado

What do the Casta Paintings tell us about race & gender? • Turn & Talk with someone at your table. • Share your observations and analysis of the Casta paintings. • What did you notice about race, gender, & class?

What do Casta Paintings show? Paintings suggest typical clothing for different social classes

• Reveal details of buildings, home life, & environments. • Present depictions of everyday objects, native flora and fauna, and foodstuffs

Key Question • Why do you think the Spanish spent so much time and effort defining the different castas? • Write down answer & be prepared to share it!

Maintaining social and political control in Colonial New Spain Although the use and purpose of Casta Paintings remains uncertain, these generally suggest the fascination with race and limpieza de sangre (purity of blood) that characterized colonial mentalities. Spaniards used their elaborate system of classification to maintain social and political control, allowing the “pureblooded” to hold the top position in colonial society.