CULTURE
The relationship between Hispanic
and Indian cultures has shaped the face of Peru. During pre-Columbian
times, Peru was one of the major centers of artistic expression
in America, where pre-Inca cultures, such as Chavin, Paracas,
Wari, Nazca, Chimu, and Tiahuanaco developed high-quality pottery,
textiles, jewelry, and sculpture. Drawing upon earlier cultures,
the Incas continued to maintain these crafts but made even more
impressive achievements in architecture. The mountain town of
Machu Picchu and the buildings at Cuzco are excellent examples
of Inca architectural design.
Peru has passed through various
intellectual stages--from colonial Hispanic culture to European
Romanticism after independence. The early 20th century brought
"indigenismo," expressed in a new awareness of Indian
culture. Since World War II, Peruvian writers, artists, and intellectuals
have participated in worldwide intellectual and artistic movements,
drawing especially on U.S. and European trends.
During the colonial period,
Spanish baroque fused with the rich Inca tradition to produce
mestizo or Creole art. The Cuzco school of largely anonymous Indian
artists followed the Spanish baroque tradition with influence
from the Italian, Flemish, and French schools. Painter Francisco
Fierro made a distinctive contribution to this school with his
portrayals of typical events, manners, and customs of mid-19th-century
Peru. Francisco Lazo, forerunner of the indigenous school of painters,
also achieved fame for his portraits. Peru's 20th-century art
is known for its extraordinary variety of styles and stunning
originality.
In the decade after 1932,
the "indigenous school" of painting headed by Jose Sabogal
dominated the cultural scene in Peru. A subsequent reaction among
Peruvian artists led to the beginning of modern Peruvian painting.
Sabogal's resignation as director of the National School of Arts
in 1943 coincided with the return of several Peruvian painters
from Europe who revitalized "universal" and international
styles of painting in Peru. During the 1960s, Fernando de Szyszlo,
an internationally recognized Peruvian artist, became the main
advocate for abstract painting and pushed Peruvian art toward
modernism. Peru remains an art-producing center with painters
such as Gerardo Chavez, Alberto Quintanilla, and Jose Carlos Ramos,
along with sculptor Victor Delfin, gaining international stature.
Promising young artists continue to develop now that Peru's economy
allows more promotion of the arts.
