Appreciating Latin American Art

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To understand art, we must first understand the origins of the master behind each work. The pieces you saw above were all painted by Latin Americans.

• So, what is Latin America?

Latin America refers to the Spanish or Portuguese nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. In total, there are 33 countries with distinct cultural, geographical, and political realities.

• What defines Latin American art?
• How is it different from art in other regions?

As with art in any part of the world, Latin American art reflects the artist's society, including culture, religion, and politics. A differentiating factor in Latin America is the unifying trend among these countries in their history of conquest, slavery, and imperialism.

Likewise, these countries are unified today in confronting the challenges of underdevelopment, environmental degradation, poverty, and inequality. Additionally, the unique blend of indigenous, European, and African cultures of each country is apparent in Latin American art.

• Who are the masters of Latin American art?

Look at a few contemporary (1900s - today) painters.

• Which were your favorites?
• Have you heard of any of these painters before?

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