The Three Princesses
- Artist
- Carlos Mérida, Guatemalan (active Mexico), 1891–1985
- Date
- 1955
- Material
- Lacquer, casein on parchment, laid down on laminated wood
- Made in
- Distrito Federál, Central America, México, North and Central America
- Classification
- Paintings
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 212
- Dimensions
- 16 1/8 x 12 5/8 in. (41 x 32 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pulitzer Jr.
- Rights
- © 2020 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / SOMAAP, Mexico City
- Object Number
- 167:1959
NOTES
In this composition, intersecting lines create an irregular grid of triangles, curves, and unique shapes. These colorful components form the bodies and clothing of three female figures. Artist Carlos Mérida advocated a type of abstraction based on the bold, geometric patterns, and vibrant colors of Maya textiles and other Indigenous Latin American arts. Mérida, a Guatemalan artist who lived much of his life in Mexico, sought to establish a uniquely American form of abstract art in conversation with contemporary European artistic developments.