Every artistic manifestation is influenced by certain aspects, situations or themes that are very present during the time of its production. In this opportunity, we take you to know the Colonial Art which is the one that began its exhibition just with the arrival of settlers in various parts of the world.
colonial art
Colonial art is all a series of artistic manifestations that began to unfold, just when various colonizations were taking place in the world. However, most of these colonized places already had their own artistic expression known as pre-colonial art, which were executed by their own natives. So it is not surprising that colonial art could have been introduced to the natives in a similar way to how settlers established themselves with dominance in these territories.
In a certain way this generated a new conception or a new way of seeing this artistic expression, which sought to exhibit between this mixture of arts (pre-colonial art and colonial art) of the union between the two traditions - cultures or simply the disappearance of the representations natives, to give entrance to the colonizers.
The influence generated by the various artistic currents in Spain and the rest of Europe, was largely inserted in colonial art. Where one of the most significant styles used was Baroque art, which is an artistic manifestation that became very present in the old continent at the end of the XNUMXth century and in the middle of the XNUMXth century, it brought out a quite decorated, executed and remarkable style. difference to others.
The various representations of this type of art give great significance to the details and in general his works were very sumptuous and loaded with images. This type of art was preferred to make works with religious themes or conceptions, in addition to being used to decorate the interior of churches. However, Baroque art had a kind of secular transformation, where through this art themes of landscapes and still life began to be exhibited.
Although colonial art was strongly influenced by the baroque, it defined or adapted its own style through a new interpretation of the baroque of the old continent, thus avoiding the connotation of being a copy of it. On the other hand, colonial art contains among its characteristics very Latin American contexts, which can be admired specifically in architecture, as well as attributes concerning indigenous and African peoples.
Another of the events that brought about the suppression of pre-colonial or native art was the strong intervention applied by the Church and the Court of the Holy Inquisition in colonial times, and its orders to harshly condemn any type of manifestation linked to art and literature native to or produced in America or any territory taken by the colony.
Features
In past times when colonization occurred in various territories, this led to a set of complicated and difficult transformations that generally affected aspects such as politics, religion, economics and of course everything cultural. Just as this occurred in each of these aspects, the same thing happened with the art of America.
Therefore, colonial art was one of the most significant aspects applied with determination and predominance, in the case of Latin America, after the appearance of Christopher Columbus. All these artistic expressions that were maintained around 400 years between the arrival of the settlers and the emancipation of Latin America, are characterized and differentiated by the following:
- The plot, context, or theme of this art was primarily religious.
- It was used as one of the efficient ways to bring evangelism to the natives who occupied these territories.
- Its initial manifestations were given through architecture through different places such as universities, churches and hospitals.
- This was heavily influenced by European art styles, specifically Renaissance, Rococo, and Baroque art.
- At the beginning, the paintings developed by colonial art were produced as a replica of the European style, however, with the passing of time, it acquired its own aspects and were different from everything European. Among these aspects, were the use of pre-Columbian elements.
History
As specified earlier in the text, colonial art is strongly rooted in European culture in general. And despite the fact that indigenous or pre-Columbian arts were not so representative at the beginning, it took colonial art quite a long time to understand and absorb aspects of these native arts with greater prominence and clarity. Now to learn a little more about how this type of art became representative of these times, it is essential to know a little about its history, which we present below:
Old age
Historically, it has been observed how a culture changes with the arrival of foreign cultures, as could be seen with the ancient colonizing cultures such as the Greeks, Carthaginians and Phoenicians that spread over large territories of the western Mediterranean. Yet these same settlers were equally touched by the influx of ancient Near Eastern cultures like Egypt and Mesopotamia.
One of the final products of the permanence and influence of these cultures in new territories and native civilizations can be seen in what is now the Iberian Peninsula, Iberian art being one of the most evident manifestations.
Modern Age and Contemporary Age
Despite the fact that there was already some ancient influence of colonizing civilizations on other cultures, this type of art was not as well known for this identification until more recent times from the appearance of mainly European settlers in American territories, detailed below. a little about the history of this art in these territories:
Latin America
In Latin America, colonial art was deployed with the arrival of the Spanish, more specifically with the findings of Christopher Columbus in various territories around the year 1442 later until the 1898th century, with the islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico being the final findings in XNUMX. The Spaniards did not arrive to these lands alone, with them they brought their language, traditions, culture and religion, which they tried to infuse by force into the natives who already had their own characteristics as a civilization.
Among the most outstanding cultures and great indigenous civilizations that were subjected to this colonizing regime, we can name: the Mayans, the Aztecs and the Incas. This imposition sought primarily the suppression or total elimination of indigenous representations, as well as everything that would create a certain link with their beliefs, customs and traditions, since this in a certain way prevented the implementation of evangelization and the establishment of a new government order. .
Therefore, by bringing these civilizations to their plan they would also introduce colonial art, which in a way, would be a reflection of the art executed in the new cities governed by the settlers. This type of art was first predetermined by very European styles, such as those used as: Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo.
Additionally, this type of art could be manifested through the construction of various architectural works quite similar to those existing in European culture during those times of the arrival of the settlers, among the first structures are churches and cathedrals. In a certain way, the development of these works made the evangelization plan of the native civilizations firmer and more solid. Later, civil buildings such as hospitals, private villas, town halls and universities were founded.
In relation to the religious, it was possible to observe how in architecture they used in many cases ancient sacred spaces as temples of these indigenous civilizations to build churches. In most of these new constructions, it was usual to coincide with characteristic elements of the colonizers as well as of the natives themselves, this generated a totally unique and different style from the usual European one.
So in this way it was that the first exhibitions of colonial art were given, the most outstanding being located in two pre-Columbian territories: Mexico and Peru.
Regarding painting and sculpture, it was possible to appreciate that firstly, with considerable regularity, European works of art were imported, the favorites being:
- Spanish
- Italian
- Flemish.
However, almost instantly, a proper execution of colonial art began to be generated in these territories, using aspects of both European and pre-Columbian culture, which made it quite emblematic.
Brazil
In Brazil, on the other hand, there was great esteem for everything that related to European culture from colonial times to more or less the XNUMXth century, a situation contrary to Afro-Brazilian cultural manifestations that were repudiated and even prohibited at that time.
Therefore, everything that had some Afro-Brazilian tint was fully condemned and punished by the justice of that country, as in the case of religion and capoeira, a dance or martial art characteristic of this social group. Contrary to various musical folkloric manifestations that were revived, celebrated and promoted as the congadas and the lundu.
Despite the rejection for a long time of the aforementioned Afro-Brazilian artistic manifestations, over time a gap of acceptance and even recognition as part of their national culture and traditions was opened, this occurred in the mid-XNUMXth century. Obviously this was a gradual process, where the first entrance of acceptance was given by the samba standing out and being admired as an Afro-Brazilian popular music at the beginning of the XNUMXth century.
african colonial art
The first encounters with Europeans and the natives of these territories were somehow recorded through art. Through the creation of figures of settlers in wood that represented his vision about those foreign people, who generally held important positions within the colonial regime, being mostly: civil servants, doctors, officers, soldiers or African technicians (évolués) during colonial time. Usually, these exhibited figures of colonists presented quite characteristic ornaments such as:
- Explorer helmets or salacot.
- Suits.
- Officer uniforms.
- Tobacco pipes.
To add color, the natives used natural pigments to the figures. The origin of the first settler statues appeared in West Africa, possibly among one of the largest ethnic groups in the Ivory Coast, the Baulé. These figures also enjoyed popularity and demand during the postcolonial period, specifically during the decolonization process and after the end of World War II.
To a large extent, this new form of artistic expression generated in Africa is linked to the defiant response to the period of colonization and despotism over African societies. It is further believed that these figures were created as part of a caricature but with a certain hidden sense of harsh criticism, indignation and rejection towards these outsiders or was nothing more than a new form of styles particular to these cultures. Today this is still being debated by various researchers, anthropologists and ethnographers.
In the same way, various researchers discuss whether these figures of settlers were objects with a merely ornamental use or whether they had a function in their rituals. The African artists of these wooden figures representing the settlers were many, one of the most outstanding in this style was the Nigerian Thomas Ona Odulate (1900-50), many of his works are currently in museums in Europe and the United States. Joined.
It is important to note that this type of African colonial art is still being produced today, on figures of settlers made of wood that are usually marketed in the territories of Central and West Africa as travel souvenirs.
asian colonial art
During the year 1615 the British touched territories of India. From his arrival, various battles took place with the empires established in this country, including that of: Maratha, Sikh and other independent ones. This English colony fought for its permanence and control of these territories for a long time until it gained control over its opponents. So as the British Empire established itself during the XNUMXth century, the foundation was laid for its later plans to make contact between modern India and the West.
And this new acculturation opened the way for a radical transformation due to artistic taste, and it is from there that a new style was originated that reflected the adaptation of traditional artists to new demands. So British colonial rule had a huge impact on Indian art.
In general, the advent of Europe was marked by a relative insensitivity to indigenous artistic traditions; former Indian patrons of art became less wealthy and influential, and Western art became more pervasive as the British Empire established art schools in large cities, such as the Bombay Art Society in 1888.
The company's style of painting, for example, became mainstream created by Indian artists working for European patrons of the British East India Company. In 1858, the British government undertook to administer India through the British Raj. The fusion of Indian traditions with European style at this time became evident in architectural styles, so towards the end of the XNUMXth century the rise of nationalism attempted a conscious revival of Indian art.
As with the Mughals under European colonial rule, the architecture became a symbol of power that was supposed to support the occupying power. Numerous European countries invaded India and created architectural styles that reflect their ancestral and adopted homes. European colonial rulers created architecture that symbolized their mission of conquest and was dedicated to the state or religion. Leading British architects of the day included:
- Robert Fellowes Chisholm
- Charles Mant
- henry irwin
- William Emerson
- George Wittet
- Frederick Stevens
One of the most marked and used trends in this territory was the Indo-Saracen Renaissance, also identified as:
- indo-gothic
- Mughal-Gothic
- Neo-Mughal
- hindu-gothic
It was a form of artistic expression of an architectural nature and in turn a current of British architects at the end of the XNUMXth century.
In this he drew elements of Indo-Islamic and Indian architecture and combined them with the Gothic Revival and Neoclassical styles favored in Britain. Public and government buildings such as steeples, courthouses, city buildings, schools and town halls have often been intentionally depicted on a large scale to reflect and promote the idea of an invincible British empire.
Among the examples of colonial art manifested through architecture in Indian territories, we can find the capitals colonized during this period of time, among which the following stand out:
- Madras
- Calcutta
- Bombay
- Delhi.
- Agra
- Patna
- Karachi
- Nagpur
- Bhopal
- Hyderabad
One of the symbols of the British Empire in this place is the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta, which was erected as a monument to the reign of Queen Victoria. The ground plan of the building consists of a large central part covered with a larger dome, with colonnades separating the two chambers. Each corner has a smaller dome and is covered with a marble base. The monument sits on 26 acres of land surrounded by reflecting pools.
Now in relation to painting, the British colonial rule had a great impact on Indian art. So the former patrons of art became less wealthy and influential, and Western art became more pervasive as the British Empire established art schools in major cities such as the Bombay Art Society in 1888.
The style of painting in colonial company art became widespread and was created by Indian artists working for European patrons of the East India Company. The style was mainly romantic, with watercolor as the main means to convey soft tones and textures, these works in turn included details quite characteristic of the Indian as well as European traditions of the time.
colonial architecture
In times where the colony was emphasized in various parts of the world, cities that were the opposite of the European ones of those times, inspiring and full of a mixture of styles. They sought to establish, based on colonial architecture and using Europe as an outline, a planning system for both public and private spaces, which would allow both the representation of the power that each colony possessed as well as the possibility of creating an improvement and quality of life. for its citizens.
Once the goal of having the desired colonial city was achieved, through ceremonies that included both religious rites, acts loaded with political proselytism and citizen participation. The founder who generally held a royal or military position, through a request for permission to God and the king at the time declares the establishment of a new city.
Which can be sanctified under the invocation of the name of a saint, this in a certain way could vary in terms of the place where it is found, or to some higher authority king or another linked to the date and the saints.
During the domain of the Spanish and Portuguese colonies, the city through a first exploration by the founder and the high-ranking soldiers, each property was distributed according to their criteria. Generally, the first space they selected was the central space (an empty square) that would give life to the main square of the city and around it, on its four sides, the various institutions of order and colonial hierarchy were established.
It is important to note that in America, colonial architecture was decisive in strengthening the evangelization process for the natives of these territories. For this reason, it was essential that there were related buildings such as churches and convents, which in general were the first works carried out, these chose to present a fairly Renaissance style, so most of them could be seen as if they were a fortress due to the character of the border. de las indias, some examples of this type of construction in America, specifically in Mexico:
- Acolman Convent
- Actopan Convent
Creole gastronomy
The colonial effect was not only evident in the arts, but also in other aspects such as music and in this case in gastronomy. So with the arrival of Europeans to various territories, fusion cuisine emerged, in which it is nothing more than the mixture of traditional or local flavors with foreign flavors.
This type of food was known as "Creole", this word itself represents those individuals with European descent whose birth occurred in the New World and who welcomed their own culture to their place of origin. The most predominant descendants were linked to the Spanish, Portuguese, French and British colonial empire, this in a certain way placed these individuals in an important social class in society.
Continuing with the theme of Creole gastronomy, it is important to highlight that even in our present times where the influences of European colonies can be identified in various cuisines of the world, some of which we can mention:
- Brazil
- Peru
- Louisiana in the United States of America
- French Antilles
- Dominican Republic
- Jamaica
- Annobon in Equatorial Guinea
- Cape Verde
Each and every one of the Creole gastronomy in the world has adapted each of the national or own products, so since there is no single Creole preparation or gastronomy. It is very common to find typical dishes or European preparations with the Creole adjective, since it was prepared with local products, such as:
- Creole chicken
- Creole pate
- Beef tails a la criolla
cultural colonialism
As part of delivering an ideological message to impose it on a culture, various media were used in order to make the values of an overbearing society decisive for a subjugated society, this in itself represents cultural imperialism. This type of action is generally used by societies of great power, to somehow bend or adapt to another social circle according to their ideals, in order to make them manageable for them.
This concept was also attributed to Grand Capital and the superiority and power of the central countries. So when it appeared around the 1940s and 1970s, it began to be attributed as a current or critical thought that reached a peak in Europe and Latin America during the previously mentioned years.
Later it was outlined as critical theory or critical-ideological sociology, whose concepts originated in the Frankfurt school in Germany. Among the most outstanding thinkers of this critical school can be mentioned:
- Theodor Adorno
- max horkheimer
- Herbert Marcuse
- Walter Benjamin
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