Welcome to AmatePaintings.com, Internet's finest Papel Amate Paintings. Original, unique, representative of the people of the Alto Rio Balsas Villages of the State of Guerrero, Mexico. True folk art.
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| Fine Mexican Folk Art |
AmatePaintings.com features fine original paintings and drawings from the Alto Rio Balsas villages of the State of Guerrero on the handmade Papel Amate from San Pablito in the Sierra Norte in the State of Puebla. The paper is made from the made from the bark of the amate (a variety of ficus) & other trees in various qualities. We feature mostly the high grade whiter paper. We offer choice paintings collected over the last 20 years.
These paintings are created in villages known as the Alto Rio Balsas. While many there speak the Nauhatl language, the area was never fully subservient to the successive rulers of the Valley of Mexico. It is still fiercely independent with some active resistance to some central government moves.
Papel Amate has strong links to Mexican history, being used for 1000s of years to record histories, calendars, regulations, etc. These were recorded in a style of painting that is similar to our contemporary Papel Amate paintings. They can be called naive, primitive, ethnic & other terms that indicate that the painters are not formally schooled in art: do not use perspective or shadowing; & use their own lives & surroundings as subject matter.
Some of the earliest fine art (1500 BC) in jade, ceramics, etc. were created here, evidenced by Olmec-type jade ornaments found there. They had at least a trade linkage to the Olmecs of the Gulf coast where their jade art has been found. Jade is found in western Mexico, not in the Olmec area. Some archeologists believe the the Olmecs may have originated here. Other say modern maize may have been hybridized here.
Amate Paintings are a joy to own. They are vibrant with color and the scenes of daily and fiesta life that are still very common in rural Mexico. These are not fantasies or abstractions they depict the actual objects & scenes in these villages. Each time you look at one of the paintings you will probably notice different fascinating details and subleties. They provide unique decorating enhancements to your home, office, business.
LivelyArts Gallery's Philosophy and Background
The colors, light, and diverse cultures of Mexico resulted in wonderful artists over thousands of years. There are two distinct streams of art that flow together, contemporaneously in Mexico.
One stream reflects the European influence in Mexico. This stream has produced world-class contemporary artists in the rich painting traditions of Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo. Others paint more modest but very nice landscapes and abstracts. Mexicans have extended these European traditions to new dimensions, particularly large scale murals. They often express the strong political consciousness in Mexico. Others have portrayed the eclectic variations on Roman Catholicism mixed with traditional beliefs that are found in Mexico
The other very exciting stream of art comes directly from the ordinary people and has native roots that reach back long before the Europeans arrived, long before the tyrannical Aztecs. While influenced by modern materials and markets, there is still a depth of liveliness, color, and culture that can shine through. In the best work, one can sense the great power, with whimsy, that has sustained the native peoples of Mexico in the face of domination by their own and foreign rulers. The LivelyArts Gallery (parent of amatepaintings.com) specializes in selecting the finest of this folk art to bring to buyers worldwide.
It is very distressing to us to see the poor quality of amate paintings offered by others on the web and eBay. They are usually the worst tourist designs and paper and certainly not worth their low cost. We take great pride in the quality and excellent value of our offerings.
The staff of LivelyArts Gallery and the cooperating galleries in Mexico have been immersed in collecting and selling in this art for many years. It is from this art that we select only the finest, most interesting and most charming original art for your office or home. We derive great pleasure from the art in our personal collections and are pleased to offer comparable art for your continuing pleasure.
Copyright © 2004, AmatePaintings.com. All rights reserved. Updated 3/31/07.
