Summary: The Spanish Influence On Andean Culture

However, though the Spanish’s influence upon Andean society was quite obvious from the late 16th century to the early 18th century, it was not overpowering towards the Andean people and their culture at the time. Incidentally, the Andeans were facing more of a transformation within their own culture through the incorporation of European culture practices into their own as noted by elements of color, perspective, and native additions seen in Cuzco School paintings. The Lord of the Fall painting, being done in Cuzco School style, provides many instances of Andean culture influences that incorporate themselves as well as challenge the European aspects within it. Though the three, somber-colored religious figures dressed in European-style clothing
serve as the main focus and ‘foundation’ of the piece, the remaining aspects of the painting serve to heavily accentuate Andean culture. Aside from the background and use of heavy greens on the figures’ clothes, the rest of the paintings colors appear quite brighter. Splashes of reds and yellows found on the fruits and flowers of the offering table as well as on the figures’ head accessories and the use of earthy colors found on the offering table itself as well as the flying cherubs serve as an important, colorful element that relates back to the Andean culture and their fondness towards using warm and earthy colors in their artworks. The additions of cherubs, native flora, and gold leaf accents reflect the Andean people’s use of their own creativity as well as national pride, making this painting more attuned with the Andeans versus the Spanish. Paying careful attention to detail, the perspective also appears to be more warped than life-like, a trait which directly opposes the natural aspect of European art styles in painting. Combined, these transformations make the painting appear more lively and vivid, traits which can compare to the positive and the full of pride nature of the Andean people versus the more somber, orderly nature of the original European art style which reflects the Spanish just as so. What was once a piece whse original purpose and meaning was to convert the Andean beliefs to that of Catholicism ended up transforming more into a celebrated style of artwork that features Andean re-invention of self as well as the proclamation of identity and pride of one’s own culture.
This ideology of pride and celebration of one’s culture is further investigated and shown through other pieces of Cuzco School artwork much like Lord of the Fall, each one incorporating European art style techniques while infusing native elements within them.
In the article “Marcos Zapata Last Supper: A Feast of European Religion and Andean Culture” written by Christina Zendt, a popular Cuzco School version of The Last Supper by indigenous artist, Marcos Zapata, is featured as being a “culturally hybrid and culinarily delightful representation of the Last Supper” and “a stunning example of the mixing of European and local traditions in the Cuzco School of painting” (Zendt 2). The Last Supper is a popular painting that originated in Europe that features the biblical scene of Jesus and his 12 disciples partaking in their last supper together. Originally, the piece depicts the group before a table littered with various European native foods such as fruits native to the area as well as bread and red wine. However, Zapata’s variation of the piece features a different kind of delicacy on the table; a cuy, or guinea pig. This food is a Peruvian delicacy and by Zapata implementing his own cultural customs into the Last Supper versus going with the European tradition shows that during that century in the Andes “through imitation, artists learned the technical skills necessary to make alterations and invent their own style” (Zendt 2). The Lord of the Fall, while not known to be a
frequently recreated piece, does serve a similar message of culture blending through its original form. Aforementioned aspects of bright color and native flora, for example, are signs of the native Andes that make an appearance within the piece, similar to how cuy makes a debut in Zapata’s The Last Supper. While the Andeans practiced some customs and beliefs of the Spanish, that does not mean the Andeans ignored aspects of their own culture. The Andean people were able to take aspects of both customs from two different societies, and meld them together to create a piece that showcases Andean pride and power through manipulating Spanish techniques and beliefs within pieces of painted artwork.
There is great power that can be gained through a person's perspective.
Coupled with the intent and determination of one’s own will power and desire of empowering one’s own culture through transformation produces something that is beyond mere words to describe. The Andean people were able to take the remnants of the events of Spanish conquests, events so horrid and twisted, with their own hands and sculpt them into a style of art that celebrates pride, power, and resilience of the Andean culture. By manipulating the rigid, dull elements of European style paintings, the Andean people added their own embellishments and made something that was once foreign and negative into a style of art, Cuzco School art, that proudly reveals parts of their rich culture and belongs to them. Keeping with their positive and resilient perspectives, the Andean people prove to be a prime example of just how powerful a sheer viewpoint can be against negative power and influences of those who may try to snuff the light of ingenuity and pride out of those who carry
it.