By: Carlie Dugue
In Cuba, painting is the most popular art form to date. While there are many other ways that the Cubans express themselves artistically, painting is the most prominent. As evident in many different pieces, Cuban works are often influenced by many different cultures, such as Spanish, African, and European. Very little is known about Cuban art forms during the time that the Ciboney and Taino people inhabited the island. The Taino people were relatively isolated from the rest of the world, and the entirety of the population was wiped out by disease when Columbus arrived on their island. The little documentation that does exist about the Ciboney and Taino people is from European accounts, as the Taino people didn’t have a written language.
However, after the Spanish began to migrate to the island in the 15th century, a culture evolved and so did the art. Cuban art, from that point forward, was heavily influenced by Spain and Spanish culture. When more Europeans began migrating to Cuba, the influences on Cuban art were evident. The blend of different cultures present in their works stems from the hundreds of years of colonization that the Cubans experienced under Spanish rule, as is evident in their paintings. As more Europeans began to arrive in Cuba around the 16th century, Cuban art began to change with the change in people living there.
One of the most famous Cuban painters is Wilfredo Lam. His most famous work, titled “the Jungle”, depicts several afro-Cuban and African traditions and styles. Lam was well known for his cultural works that sought to revive the afro-Cuban and African style in Cuban art. Another famous painter who left a lasting impact on the Cuban art scene was Amelia Pelaez. She was well-known for her work titled “Naturaleza Muerta” Created in 1935. This work, along with many of her other works, highlighted the best of the avant-garde movement at the time.