La Calavera Catrina

La Catrina is a skeleton lady who has become symbolic of the Day of the Dead in Mexico and most often found representation at him. In addition to La Catrina, there are more skeletons in the same style that are far less well known, however.

Origin

The figure was probably created among other works by Mexican engraver José Guadalupe Posada, in order to make fun of the pre-revolutionary Mexican upper class under Porfirio Díaz - however, they may exist even with Manuel Manilla. The representations were particularly popular during the Revolution and therefore have found their way into the cultural self-representation in Mexico. At the latest Diego Rivera La Catrina picks up as in his painting " Sonntagsträumerei in the Alameda ," the cult of La Catrina has become independent.

Name

Catrina is in Spanish a literary term for a wealthy or rich person, but with a pejorative and sarcastic undertone.

Recent representations

Again and again, speculations were made as to whether Tim Burton in creating his animated characters in The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride - Corpse Bride was inspired by La Catrina. Especially the long body, the stately clothes and the macabre representation suggest. Respect to this, The Nightmare Before Christmas on Halloween, which is celebrated in a timely manner at the Mexican Day of the Dead.

The skeletons in the PC game Grim Fandango are also modeled in it.