Humanscape 62

Melesio Casas, Humanscape 62, 1970, acrylic on canvas, 7397 in. (185.4246.4 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2012.37, © 1970, the Casas Family

Artwork Details

Title
Humanscape 62
Date
1970
Dimensions
7397 in. (185.4246.4 cm)
Copyright
© 1970, the Casas Family
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums Description
acrylic on canvas
Classifications
Highlights
Subjects
  • Object — foodstuff — brownie
  • Dress — uniform — scout uniform
  • Indian
Object Number
2012.37

Artwork Description

Humanscape 62 satirizes the trivialization of brown cultures--both Mexican and Indigenous--in American advertising. Melesio Casas depicts the Frito Bandito (a racist cartoon mascot of the Frito-Lay Company) as part of a Mesoamerican jade pendant. He juxtaposes this with images of American Indian and Mexican American people, a Brownie Girl Scout, and a tray of brownies, labeling them all "Brownies of the Southwest."

A central figure of the Chicano arts movement, Casas created Humanscape 62 the year Frito-Lay began to phase out its use of the character in response to lobbying by Chicano activists. The painting both documents the character's existence and confronts the power of mass media to shape and perpetuate cultural stereotypes.

Works by this artist (3 items)

Erik Demaine, Martin Demaine, Green Balance, 2011, Mi-Teintes watercolor paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artists in honor of the fortieth anniversary of the Renwick Gallery, 2011.54.3, © 2011, Erik and Martin Demaine
Green Balance
Date2011
Mi-Teintes watercolor paper
Not on view
Erik Demaine, Martin Demaine, Natural Cycles, 2009, Zanders Elefantenhaut paper (elephant hide paper), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artists in honor of the fortieth anniversary of the Renwick Gallery, 2011.54.1, © 2009, Erik and Martin Demaine
Natural Cycles
Date2009
Zanders Elefantenhaut paper (elephant hide paper)
Not on view
Erik Demaine, Martin Demaine, Hugging Circles, 2011, Zanders Elefantenhaut paper (elephant hide paper), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artists in honor of the fortieth anniversary of the Renwick Gallery, 2011.54.2, © 2011, Erik and Martin Demaine
Hugging Circles
Date2011
Zanders Elefantenhaut paper (elephant hide paper)
Not on view

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      In this series, E. Carmen Ramos, curator of Latino art, discusses the exhibition Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This episode looks at the painting Humanscape 62 by Melesio Casas. Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art presents the rich and varied contributions of Latino artists in the United States since the mid-twentieth century, when the concept of a collective Latino identity began to emerge. The exhibition is drawn entirely from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's pioneering collection of Latino art. It explores how Latino artists shaped the artistic movements of their day and recalibrated key themes in American art and culture.

      Exhibitions

      Media - 2011.12 - SAAM-2011.12_1 - 77591
      Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art
      October 25, 2013March 2, 2014
      Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art presents the rich and varied contributions of Latino artists in the United States since the mid-twentieth century, when the concept of a collective Latino identity began to emerge.

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