Pleasure is Mine (Tea Cups) 

Carlos Almaraz made "Pleasure is Mine (Tea Cups)" with bold colors and dynamic brushstrokes. This energetic composition invites us to consider the social rituals around shared experiences. Made in the latter half of the 20th century, this piece reflects a moment of cultural and artistic intersection. Almaraz, as a Chicano artist, engages with the dominant artistic styles of his time while infusing them with personal and cultural meaning. Here, the domesticity of tea drinking is heightened by the surreal atmosphere and the silhouette figures. Do these figures represent an engagement with or an alienation from mainstream social practices? Are they in dialogue with surrealist or expressionist tendencies? By studying the artist's background, and the cultural and artistic movements of the time, we can better understand Almaraz's commentary on society through art. This painting serves as a powerful reminder of art’s capacity to reflect and challenge social norms.