Manolas 

Editor: This ink drawing, titled "Manolas" by Ignacio Zuloaga, depicts what looks like a gathering of women in shawls and traditional dress. It has a melancholic air to it, almost a shadow of some other story. What do you see in this piece? Curator: What immediately strikes me is how Zuloaga situates these women within a very specific visual vocabulary linked to Spanish identity, particularly its relationship with spectacle and performance. These "Manolas," figures often associated with working-class Madrid and celebrated for their style and independence, are represented here with a kind of gravitas, even weariness. Consider, too, that Zuloaga painted during a period of intense national self-reflection in Spain following the loss of its colonies, questioning the very idea of Spanishness. What kind of story do you think that creates for the viewer? Editor: I see a story about representation itself! Like, who gets to define Spanish identity and what aspects of it are being emphasized? Their traditional clothing almost feels like a costume, a symbol rather than just garments. Curator: Exactly. The attire speaks to the construction of identity, the performative aspects of gender, class, and nation. Remember, too, that art serves as a site where these constructs are both reinforced and challenged. Who is invited into these national narratives, and who is left out? Where are the Indigenous voices? Editor: It definitely gives me a lot to think about regarding how identity is curated and presented, both historically and today. Thanks for the insights! Curator: Absolutely! Looking critically at how identity is represented through art empowers us to examine these very powerful dynamics within our society.