The earliest forms of art came from the Mayan
traditions, and these have been passed down generations. The Mayan civilization is definitely old,
but it’s not the oldest in these parts.
Art traditions of the earlier Olmecs, Toltecs, and Teotihuacans
influenced Mayan arts. The Mayans had very structured cities that included courtyards,
palaces, residential homes, pyramids, and ball courts. There were several types
of stone sculpture including stelas (long slabs with carvings and inscriptions),
lintels (spanning panels and doorways set in walls), altars, ball court
markers, monumental stairs, and thrones.
Woodcarving was also common, mostly in the form of reliefs and figurines
of various spiritual protectors. Stucco plaster has been used on and in buildings
and other reliefs. Many of their buildings also contained large, complex mural
paintings. The Mayans also made
many tools and jewelry out of jade and other special stones like obsidian and
mother-of-pearl; however, the Mayans did not use metal tools.
Today, much of Guatemala’s artistic styles mix bits
of traditional art forms with modern techniques and styles from North America,
Europe, and other regional areas. Art schools were established, especially in
the larger cities. One of the largest established schools is the Escuela
Nacional de Artes Plásticas “Rafael Rodríguez Padilla,” established in
Guatemala City in 1920. It mainly focuses on painting, sculpture, and graphic
arts. [So, here’s a bonus side note: the school’s name literally translates out
to National School of Plastic Arts. What? A school that only makes things of
plastic? No. In US English, we use the term plastic to refer to the material.
It ultimately comes from a Greek word meaning “to mold,” which is its main
design feature, to be able to mold it when it’s soft. Well, the term “plastic
arts” pretty much refers to sculpture, ceramics, or other arts involving
creating and molding 3-D objects. So, it makes sense now.]
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| Luis Rolando Ixquiac Xicara |
Some of the leading Guatemalan artists include Luis
Rolando Ixquiac Xicara (an indigenous artist from Quetzeltenango, generally
known for mixing abstract art with folk imagery), Carlos Mérida (one of the
first Guatemalan artists to mix European styles with Guatemalan imagery and
themes, known as a muralist), Aníbal López (known for his “live art,” combining
painting art with street performance), and Robert González Goyri (known for
figurative reliefs, sculptures of metal or stone, and his semi-abstract
paintings).
One of the oldest writings from this area is the
Popol Vuh, a collection of Mayan stories and legends written in the Quiché
language. It was translated into Spanish during the 18th century,
and because of its subject material, it’s often considered the Mayan Bible.
The Colonial period would bring forth the first
Guatemalan Spanish-language writer.
Sor Juana de Maldonado was considered the first poet and playwright of
Guatemala, and Rafael Landívar was another great poet during the 16th
century. Francisco Antonio de
Fuentes y Guzmán was one of the prominent historians of this period. Traditionally, poetry was generally
sung, and most poetry was religious in nature. A shift in influences started to
take place during the 18th century when Guatemalan literature
started to use styles and forms particular to French neoclassicism.
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| José Milla y Vidaurre, "Pepe Milla" |
Once Guatemala gained independence, its literature
started to move independently from Spanish and other European literary styles. Antonio José de Irisarri helped propel
the journalism industry that grew out of the political turmoil in Guatemala
during its early days. Writers such as María Josefa García Granados, José
Batres Montúfar, José Milla y Vidaurre, Máximo Soto Hall, and Enrique Gómez
Carrillo brought poetry and prose along to the modern period. Milla was
considered the father of the Guatemalan novel, who was also known by Salomé Jil
or Pepe Milla.
Today, Guatemalan writers are on the same level as
other successful writers throughout Latin American and world literature. Miguel
Ángel Asturias won the Nobel Prize in 1967, most famous for his novels El Señor Presidente and Hombres de Maiz. Luis Cardoza y Aragón
(poetry), Augusto Monterroso (short stories, novels, winner of the 2000
Príncipe de Asturias prize), and Carlos Solórzano (playwright) were also very
successful writers and are internationally known. Much of the subject matter
for modern Guatemalan literature is centered around politics and the role and
treatment of the indigenous Mayan communities. Rigoberta Menchú, author of I, Rigoberta Menchú (1983), highlighted
her life and immense struggles during the Civil War. She would continue to
fight for peace and justice (especially against the atrocities of war crimes),
leading to her acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992. She was also the
winner of the 1998 Príncipe de Asturias prize.
Up next: music and dance
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