Casta Paintings Defining Race and Gender Relations in Colonial Latin America

Origins of “Casta” Casta is an Iberian word meaning “lineage”, “breed” or “race.” It is derived from the older Latin word castus,“chaste”, implying that the lineage has been kept pure.

Defining castas in Latin America In the years following the conquest of the Americas, most people fell into three distinct ethnoracial categories: Nahuas (indigenous people), peninsular Spaniards, or Africans (both enslaved and free). By the early 17 th century, these categories broke down quickly and castas were being defined. Some estimates place the total number of castas in use in colonial Latin America at sixty or more.

Casta Paintings Casta paintings are part of the 18 th century artistic tradition of Colonial Mexico. These generally appear in groups of sixteen portraits that trace the complex racial mixing or mestizaje of the people in New Spain. Each painting depicts a couple along with one or two children. An inscription describing the ethnoracial make up of the mother, the father, and the child(ren) usually appears above the family.

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 racial categories? 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 into defining the different castas? Write down answer & be prepared to share it!

What was the purpose of these paintings? Some have linked the emphasis on classification and organization to the influence of the Enlightenment It has been suggested that the meticulous depictions speaks not only the Spanish fascination with race, but also to the leading philosophical and scientific preoccupations of the time

Because the majority of Casta Paintings still in existence were found in Spain rather than Mexico, it has also been suggested that these were meant as souvenirs These may have been mementos that captured the newness of the “New World”, showing native plants and diverse peoples of the region Souvenirs of the “New World”

Interest in Daily Life Others have linked this artistic tradition to trends in Spanish art It is believed that Casta Paintings were influenced by Costumbrismo, an artistic movement that represented daily life and ordinary circumstances

Maintaining social and political control in Colonial New Spain Although the use and purpose for production 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.