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This uniquely Mexican technique of elaborating and displaying images is termed photo-sculpture. The tradition began in the Distrito Federal during the 1930s to commemorate significant events in the lives of Mexican and Mexican American families. Images of individuals are captured, cut, and shaped to fit on a thin wooden sculpture with a dimensional impact that is very lifelike. The sculptures are generally housed in simple wooden frames between two panes of glass and incorporate the mediums of photography, painting, and sculpture.
The two panes of glass that would have originally protected the photo-sculpture have been lost, but the upholstery tacks that held them in place remain. They are fastened to a beautiful, decorative wood frame, with carved designs that have a distinctly Spanish influence and were commonly carved in the 1940´s. A wooden support enables the piece to be freestanding. The individual commemorated in the photo-sculpture appears to have been from an era that long predates the rise of photo-sculptures in Mexico City. The cut-out images used for the face and hand indicates that they were most likely cut from a lithograph.
The piece is in remarkably good condition, with only slight wear to the face of the frame. It would serve as a mysterious and charming addition to any setting.
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