Gift of Diane Greenlee for the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women in Politics. In the Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
U2003.33
In this portrait of Mexican-American singer Selena, all defining characteristics of physical appearance are removed, leaving behind a flowing skirt and a brightly colored, pink skeleton. And yet, what can the viewer take from this image on the identity of Selena and the culture that continues to consider her an influential figure even after her untimely death? Is the tone of this lithograph one of mourning, or of celebration and honor? How does the image of a skeleton differ in tone from Mexican cultural beliefs to American attitudes towards death?
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0)
