Self-portrait with a Red Shawl

In her self-portraits, María shows the pride she feels for her roots. Her dark skin, her traditional clothing, her hairstyles with braids decorated with flowers, and consistently with a passive gesture—all these could indicate that she was melancholy. Like many artists in Mexico at the beginning of the 20th century, she was looking for the roots of Mexico’s identity.

In her Self-portrait with a Red Shawl from 1940, the artist wears a dress that reminds us of the regional costume of the state of Veracruz, contrasting with the shawl that surrounds it. Her attire recalls the colors of the Mexican flag: the white of that represents peace, surrounded by the red of the blood shed by the brave people who defended it. A mountainous landscape, characteristic of her paintings, gives the scene atmosphere; the artist also includes a column with a static figurine (like the wooden ones that she used as a model for her paintings). This painting was one of those she presented at the Lima, Peru art exhibition in 1944.

- Maestra Renata Blaisten.

We present today's works thanks to the Museo Blaisten. <3

P.S. Here are five modern women artists you should definitely get to know, María Izquierdo among them!