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The photo-sculpture technique exemplified in the work offered here is uniquely Mexican. The craft 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 onto 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.
Housed in a simple, oddly shaped wooden frame, this photo sculpture commemorates a Mexican gentleman dressed in a handsome suit, white collared shirt and red tie. The presence of a knob that remains attached to the wood used to construct the frame and several odd rivets indicate that the materials may have been recycled from a drawer or cabinet.
The condition of the frame is consistent with this supposition that its wood had a prior use. The finish is scraped and cracked in places, particularly around the base. The original condition of the photo-sculpture itself has, for the most part, been maintained. Unprotected by the twin panes of glass that are often features of these pieces, the photograph has faded near the top of the sculpture. The wear is consistent with the age and importance of the piece to the family that commissioned it.
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