Art and Soul

A Historical View

In Spanish art, identity transcends Europe, says Barbara von Barghahn, professor of Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American colonial art at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. "While Spanish art reflects inspiration from other European countries," she notes, "it also encompasses the Moorish and North African traditions, Greek and Roman influences, and Celtic themes."

Nowhere is Spanish art on greater display than at Madrid's Prado, also one of von Barghahn's favorites. Situated in the heart of the Spanish capital, the structure holds thousands of masterpieces, including some by Diego Velázquez and Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (known as Goya). A visit to the Prado can be capped off with a trip to another of von Barghahn's favorites: the nearby Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, whose works include some by Spain's Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí.

A Social Justice Perspective

Cynthia MacMullin, curator at the Museum of Latin American Art (molaa) in Long Beach, California, says she makes pilgrimages to the Frick Collection in Manhattan for inspiration. "The works are so historically pivotal," she says. "I weep when I view the art." The Frick boasts works by Goya, Spanish master El Greco, and others.

Latin American art is distinguished by its focus on social issues, MacMullin says. For example, a piece at the molaa, Cotzij, by Guatemalan artist Verónica Riedel, explores identity by creating a multimedia Baroque-themed collage of a young contemporary girl as a princess. "We utilize the art...to understand cultural concepts different from ours in the United States," MacMullin says.

The recently renovated molaa—its facelift reflecting contemporary Latin American architecture and style—features artists such as Cuban surrealist Wifredo Lam and Peruvian painter Fernando de Szyszlo. The museum is 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.

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