Tierra o Muerte

Emanuel Martinez, Tierra o Muerte, 1967, screenprint on manila folder, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1996.8, © 1967, Emanuel Martinez
Emanuel Martinez, Tierra o Muerte, 1967, screenprint on manila folder, 11 34 × 9 12 in. (29.8 × 24.1 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1996.8, © 1967, Emanuel Martinez

Artwork Details

Title
Tierra o Muerte
Date
1967
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
11 34 × 9 12 in. (29.8 × 24.1 cm)
Copyright
© 1967, Emanuel Martinez
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums Description
screenprint on manila folder
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure male — waist length
  • Dress — accessory — hat
  • Chicanx
  • Object — weapon — sword
  • Object — weapon — gun
Object Number
1996.8

Artwork Description

Description in Spanish

En 1967, Martínez se afilió à la Alianza Federal de Mercedes (Federal Land Grant Alliance) en Nuevo México, encabezada por Reies López Tijerina. A partir de 1966, la Alianza luchó para reclamar los derechos à la tierra comunal garantizados de conformidad con el Tratado de Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) que puso fin à la guerra entre México y los Estados Unidos. Para legitimar los objetivos de esta organización, el artista adoptó la figura de Emiliano Zapata, un héroe de la Revolución Mexicana y cambió la histórica frase del líder Tierra y Libertad” a Tierra o Muerte”. Al hacerlo, su grabado vincula la reforma agraria y la distribución de la riqueza de la Revolución Mexicana con la lucha del movimiento chicano contra las injusticias políticas y sociales. Creada en el momento culminante del activismo de la Alianza, cuando disponían de muy pocos fondos, Martínez imprimió la imagen en carpetas de manila donadas à la organización.

¡Imprimir la revolución! Auge e impacto de las obras gráficas chicanas, desde 1965 hasta hoy, 2020

Works by this artist (3 items)

Rico Gatson, History Lessons, 2004, four-channel video, color, sound; 10:12 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2015.7.2, © 2004, Aunrico Gatson
History Lessons
Date2004
four-channel video, color, sound; 10:12 minutes
Not on view
Rico Gatson, Gun Play, 2001, single-channel video, color, sound; 02:35 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2015.7.1, © 2001, Aunrico Gatson
Gun Play
Date2001
single-channel video, color, sound; 02:35 minutes
Not on view
Rico Gatson, Jungle, Jungle, 2001, single-channel video, color, sound; 02:40 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2015.7.3, © 2001, Aunrico Gatson
Jungle, Jungle
Date2001
single-channel video, color, sound; 02:40 minutes
Not on view

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More Artworks from the Collection

Cat Mazza, Knit for Defense, 2011-2012, single-channel digital video, black and white, surround sound; 9:10 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 2012.28, © 2012, Cat Mazza
Knit for Defense
Date2011-2012
single-channel digital video, black and white, surround sound; 9:10 minutes
Not on view
Kota Ezawa, LYAM 3D, 2008, digital animation, color, silent; 04:00 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible through Deaccession Funds, 2010.23, © 2008, Kota Ezawa
LYAM 3D
Date2008
digital animation, color, silent; 04:00 minutes
Not on view
Rico Gatson, History Lessons, 2004, four-channel video, color, sound; 10:12 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2015.7.2, © 2004, Aunrico Gatson
History Lessons
Date2004
four-channel video, color, sound; 10:12 minutes
Not on view
The Passage
Date2009
single-channel video, color, sound; 19:00 minutes
Not on view