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The Haciendas of Mexico: An Artist's Record
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November 14, 2020
A survey of 300+ Mexican haciendas by an artist, even though many of the haciendas described no longer exist. The survey lasted 25 years and was conducted through many visits, some of them with the author's son.
The graphical work - including the photos - are currently curated in the Benson Latin American Collection of the University of Texas in Austin and the Western History Research Center of the University of Wyoming in Laramie.
The hacienda system was decimated through the repartitioning of the land, which often meant loss of access to water points and reduced livestock. Ever since, many have been abandoned or converted for other purposes, such as schools and hotels. The book describes both the historical context as well as anecdotes received from personal contacts with hacienda families and caretakers who could still recall the old days. Also, the book does not delve in only the more well known facts, such as oppression and cruelty from the land owners (not all of them rich), but also some of the infighting among the native tribes.
Though there is no coherent story, the book does well in telling the history of haciendas, and equally well how Mexican society was shaped by these structures and the life that existed around them.
Some of the more interesting tidbits: Scholarly priests began linguistic studies of some tribes; they edited dictionaries, but these were never circulated. Some of their work has yet to be published.
The graphical work - including the photos - are currently curated in the Benson Latin American Collection of the University of Texas in Austin and the Western History Research Center of the University of Wyoming in Laramie.
The hacienda system was decimated through the repartitioning of the land, which often meant loss of access to water points and reduced livestock. Ever since, many have been abandoned or converted for other purposes, such as schools and hotels. The book describes both the historical context as well as anecdotes received from personal contacts with hacienda families and caretakers who could still recall the old days. Also, the book does not delve in only the more well known facts, such as oppression and cruelty from the land owners (not all of them rich), but also some of the infighting among the native tribes.
Though there is no coherent story, the book does well in telling the history of haciendas, and equally well how Mexican society was shaped by these structures and the life that existed around them.
Some of the more interesting tidbits: Scholarly priests began linguistic studies of some tribes; they edited dictionaries, but these were never circulated. Some of their work has yet to be published.
Displaying 1 of 1 review