The Protagonist of an Endless Story

Object Details

Artist

Angel Rodríguez-Díaz, born San Juan, Puerto Rico 1955-died San Antonio, TX 2023

Sitter

Sandra Cisneros

Exhibition Label

Known for his richly textured and painterly style, Angel Rodríguez-Díaz spent the last several decades painting portraits of important cultural icons of San Antonio and the Southwestern United States. The "protagonist" of this painting is renowned Chicana novelist and poet Sandra Cisneros, best known for her debut novel, The House on Mango Street. Cisneros stands before a fiery sunset, dressed in a traditional Mexican skirt embroidered with sequined imagery that refers to her profession as a writer. Her commanding pose, reminiscent of historic European portraiture, proclaims that she will endure in her native landscape. In the work's title, as well as its composition, the artist asserts that Chicanx culture will not be erased.

Many Wests: Artists Shape an American Idea, 2023

Conocido por su estilo pictórico de gran riqueza de texturas, Ángel Rodríguez-Díaz dedicó las últimas décadas a pintar retratos de importantes íconos culturales de San Antonio y del sudoeste de los Estados Unidos. La "protagonista" de este cuadro es la renombrada novelista y poetisa chicana Sandra Cisneros, más conocida por su primera novela, La casa en Mango Street. Cisneros está de pie ante una ardiente puesta de sol, vestida con una falda tradicional mexicana con imágenes bordadas en lentejuelas, que hacen referencia a su profesión de escritora. Su pose imponente, que recuerda a los retratos históricos europeos, proclama que perdurará en su paisaje natal. En el título de la obra, así como en su composición, el artista afirma que la cultura chicanx no será borrada.

Más de un oeste: Visiones artísticas de una idea estadounidense, 2023

Credit Line

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible in part by the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool and the Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program

Copyright

© 1993, Angel Rodriguez-Diaz

1993

Object number

1996.19

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Painting

Medium

oil on canvas

Dimensions

72 x 57 7/8 in. (182.9 x 147.0 cm.)

See more items in

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department

Painting and Sculpture

On View

Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1st Floor, West Wing

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Topic

Landscape\plant

Occupation\writer\poet

Occupation\writer\novelist

Portrait female\knee length

Record ID

saam_1996.19

Metadata Usage (text)

Not determined

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk72df02a37-0e9c-4218-81c5-01e1edc62ea1