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La Calavera Catrina

La Calavera Catrina (‘Dapper Skeleton’ or ‘Elegant Skull’) is a 1910–1913 zinc etching by famous Mexican printmaker, cartoon illustrator, and lithographer José Guadalupe Posada.

The image depicts a female skeleton dressed only in a hat befitting the upper-class outfit of a European of her time. She is offered as a satirical portrait of those Mexican natives who were aspiring to adopt European aristocratic traditions in the pre-revolution era.

La Calavera Catrina, in particular, has become an icon of the Mexican Día de Los Muertos (“The Day of the Dead”).

La Catrina has become an important icon of Mexican culture and the favorite costume to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Every November 1st and 2nd, Mexicans dress up as Catrina, one of the most important icons of Mexican culture.

History

Cultural importance

Artistic subtext

Links to Mesoamerica

Folk art

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