Heritage c. 1960

Michael Ponce de León created this print, titled ‘Heritage’, using a combination of etching and collage. In the context of the mid to late twentieth century, when Ponce de León was working, this can be understood as a potent method of engaging with cultural and political questions. Collage and printmaking provided an effective means to disseminate progressive ideas that challenged the status quo. Look closely, and you will see that the artist combines abstract form with fragmented imagery from printed media. The title 'Heritage' implies that he is investigating collective identity, and perhaps responding to debates around race and national culture at the time. As a historian, I am particularly interested in the ways that art can inform our understanding of political and social concerns. If we want to understand this artwork in more depth, we might investigate the artist’s personal history, contemporary art criticism, and political debates from the time it was made.