Essays on 20th Century Latin American Art: (Latin American Tópicos)

Essays on 20th Century Latin American Art provides a broad synthesis of the subject through short chapters illustrated with reproductions of iconic works by artists who have made significant contributions to art and society. Designed as a teaching tool for non-art historians, the book's purpose is to introduce these important artists within a new scholarly context and recognize their accomplishments with those of others beyond the Americas and the Caribbean. The publication provides an in-depth analysis of topics such as political issues in Latin American art and art and popular culture, introducing views on artists and art-related issues that have rarely been addressed. Organized both regionally and thematically, it takes a unique approach to the exploration of art in the Americas, beginning with discussions of Modernism and Abstraction, followed by a chapter on art and politics from the 1960s to the 1980s. The author covers Spanish-speaking Central America and the Caribbean, regions not usually addressed in Latin American art history surveys. The chapter on Carnival as an expression of popular culture is a particularly valuable addition. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of Latin American history, culture, art, international relations, gender studies, and sociology, as well as Caribbean studies.

Table of Contents:
1. Modern Latin American Art 2. Abstraction in Latin America 3. Politics in Latin American Art from the 1960s to the 1980s 4. Contemporary Cuban Art 5. Art in Central America and the Caribbean since the 1990s 6. Carnival in Latin America and the Caribbean Conclusion

About the Author :
Francine Birbragher-Rozencwaig is an art historian, independent curator, and art critic. She received an M.A. in art history and a Ph.D. in Latin American history from the University of Miami. A founding editor of ArtNexus, she has written extensively on contemporary art and has organized exhibitions in the United States and Latin America.

Review :
In her pathbreaking Essays on 20th Century Latin American Art, Francine Birbragher provides an in-depth analysis about the interrelations between art, gender, politics, and ideology in Latin America, without a doubt, one of the most convulsive regions in the world. The chapter on Contemporary Cuban Art is a rigorous account about the artists who during the eighties and the nineties made significant contributions to the development of Cuban Art. Birbragher emphasizes the aesthetic role played by African and Amerindian cultures in some of these artists' works, and how these elements have enriched and diversified the multiple visions recreated on the canvas or captured by the photographic lens. The use of the visual art scene for the promotion of political discussion and social changes permeates the entire text, making this reading a valuable tool for a better understanding of the relationship between art and politics. Perla Rozencvaig, Latin American and Iberian Cultures, Columbia University, USA The book, Essays on 20th Century Latin American Art, is of special interest for readers who are keen on Latin-American art due to the choice of subjects it presents. It's focused on six significant aspects such as modernity, abstraction, and genre, emphasizing on Caribbean art in the latter three chapters and introducing a not so explored subject that could be of great appeal to both specialized and casual readers: the Carnival celebrations. . . It is quite rare to find on the market a publication that gathers so many diverse aspects of Latin American art, written with such thoroughness or with this pleasantness. This is certainly a read that will attract a broad audience. Ivonne Pini, Emeritus Professor of Art History, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia