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La Anunciación del Nahual / José Chávez Morado

Gallery Label

At first glance, this composition resembles scenes of the Annunciation of the Virgin, a Christian subject. The woman on the left also bears similarities to the Virgin Mary with her deep blue veil and white dress symbolizing purity, and a rounded belly that protrudes with child. However, Morado marries familiar Christian iconography with pre-Hispanic and indigenous cosmology. The imposing figure nearby represents a Nahual, a shape-shifting sorcerer rooted in Mexico’s ancient past but still a highly revered and feared entity in some communities today.

A primera vista, esta composición se asemeja a escenas de la Anunciación de la Virgen, un tema católico. La mujer del lado izquierdo también se parece a la Virgen María debido a su velo de azul profundo, su vestido blanco que simboliza la pureza, y un vientre redondo que indica un parto inminente. Sin embargo, Morado une la iconografía cristiana con la cosmología prehispánica. La cercana figura imponente representa un nahual (o nagual), un chamán capaz de cambiarse de forma. El nahual es una figura bien arraigada en la antigüedad mexicana, pero todavía es venerado y temido en algunas comunidades hasta el día de hoy.

From the exhibition: Mexican Modernism: Revolution & Reckoning, August 29, 2019 - August 30, 2020.
Alison Rossi, Director of Learning and Community Engagement, 2019.

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Title(s): 
La Anunciación del Nahual; Annunciation of the Nahual
Creator(s): 
José Chávez Morado (Artist)
Culture: 
Mexican
Date: 
1946
Materials/Techniques: 
oil on canvas
Classification: 
Object Type: 
Accession No: 
01.2021
Previous Number(s): 
0147.2021; 21097
Department: 
Not On View

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