{
  "id": 5138613,
  "title": "Papier-Mâché Altarpiece at Plaza Capuchinas in Mexico City, Mexico",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/papier-mache-altarpiece-at-plaza-capuchinas-in-mexico-city-mexico",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-02T17:41:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Atlas Obscura",
    "slug": "atlas-obscura",
    "url": "https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/papier-mache-altarpiece-at-plaza-capuchinas"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [
    "Cartonería, a folk art using papier-mâché, is prevalent in Mexico City.",
    "Martín Rentería, a renowned Baroque artist, likely created the Plaza Capuchinas altarpiece.",
    "The altarpiece, featuring Christian themes, aligns with Rentería's artistic style."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}