Language of Objects in the Art of the Americas

In this wide-ranging book, a distinguished scholar of Latin American art explores the meanings of created and depicted objects from the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking regions of the New World. Edward Sullivan begins with objects exchanged during encounters between indigenous peoples of the Americas and newly-arrived Europeans, and he pursues the discussion to the present day, as artists engage in breaking down constructed concepts of 'Latin American-ness'. Sullivan's scope is sweeping – the changing meanings of objects over five centuries – and he invites deeper conversation about the complexities of today's culture of the Americas. From American-made handicrafts displayed in Old World curiosity cabinets, to still life paintings projecting a Latin American nation's proud self-image, to twentieth-century "found objects" identified as works of art, objects from the Americas provide a wealth of cultural insights. This generously illustrated volume invites the reader to travel across time and national boundaries to examine an array of these extraordinary and meaningful objects.