Purepecha Life

Purepecha Life

Oil on Canvas

In the state of Michoacan, Mexico, lives a group of people called purepecha. They are know for their fierceness, friendliness and hospitality. They fended off against the fiercest Aztec emperors. In fact, they did not know of defeat until the Spaniards arrived with their modern weapons.

In this painting, I have chosen to display the very foundation of Purepecha life. Here, on a more civil note, a serene young mother carries her infant child on her back attesting to her motherly devotion. She also carries out her many other chores while teaching by example.

Here she is selecting tomatillos(small green tomato-like vegetable) and peeling off their skin. As if learning by example, her younger daughter plays with the tomatillos while she looks onto other things that distract her. I have chosen to dress up the little girl in red, green, and touches of white to represent the three colors of the Mexican flag.