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 (2 items)

Melesio Casas, Humanscape 62, 1970, acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2012.37, © 1970, the Casas Family
Humanscape 62
Date1970
acrylic on canvas
On view
Melesio Casas, Humanscape 141: Barrio Dog, 1987, acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1998.90, © 1987, Mel Casas
Humanscape 141: Barrio Dog
Date1987
acrylic on canvas
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.