Ritual 2014

Mariojosé Ángeles created this watercolor painting, titled "Ritual," at an unknown date. It depicts the human form through soft and flowing lines, suggesting a kind of intimate ceremony. Ángeles, born in 1965, began her career at a time when artists in Mexico were grappling with a complicated legacy. On one hand, the muralists like Diego Rivera created a model for socially engaged art. On the other, they had to shake off the official sanctioning of art by the state. In this context, Ángeles explores personal and spiritual themes through the female nude. The politics of imagery are important here, as it challenges the male gaze often associated with the nude in art history. To understand this work better, we might research the changing role of women in Mexican society and the rise of feminist art. Through these resources, we can better understand how the artwork interacts with and comments on the social structures of its time.