Papier-Mâché Altarpiece at Plaza Capuchinas in Mexico City, Mexico
Cartonería is one of the main forms of artes populares (folk art), also known as artesanías (handcrafts), to come out of Mexico City and its metropolitan area. The terms refers to cartón, what cardboard is called in Mexican Spanish, and cartonería works use a type of papier-mâché technique for their building. Cartonería is the original medium for judas (figures intended to be burned at…
Cartonería, a prominent form of folk art in Mexico City and its surrounding metropolitan area, is created using the papier-mâché technique. This art form is known for producing figures like Judas and alebrijes, as well as monumental pieces displayed during the annual La Noche de los Alebrijes event. The city houses numerous cartonería workshops and renowned artists.
It is plausible that an impressive reproduction of a Baroque church altarpiece found at Plaza Capuchinas is the result of such a workshop. Martín Rentería, who died in 2023, and his students' workshop are considered the most likely creators of this altarpiece. Rentería was renowned for his realistic works that focused on Christian themes, making this altarpiece a likely match for his artistic style.
Written by urgent.news from Atlas Obscura's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
