Papier-mâché Figures

Papier-mâché sculpture, known as cartonería, is a popular form of Mexican folk art.  Skeleton figures like these are especially sought after for Day of the Dead. These figures represent Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.  The design is based on one of Kahlo’s paintings, shown here.  The bases of the individual figures fit together to form a heart.  The artists were married from 1929 to 1939 and again from 1940 until her death in 1954.  These sculptures were made by Felipe Linares Mendoza.  The Linares family is famous for their papier-mâché sculptures. Although the family had been making cartonería for decades, they didn’t add skeletons to their portfolio until 1968, when they were introduced to the skeleton illustrations of José Guadalupe Posada. A renaissance of cartonería was sparked by the popularity of such figures on the international art market.