#27: El Nopal (Nopal) 2008

Marina Pallares created this striking, small-scale linocut print titled "#27: El Nopal." The image resonates deeply within Mexican identity, drawing on the cultural and historical significance of the nopal cactus. As a symbol, the nopal is woven into the national narrative of Mexico, linked to the founding of Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City. In Pallares' composition, we see the nopal rendered in stark black and white, its form boldly contrasting with the patterned background. The texture of the printmaking process adds a tactile dimension, inviting us to consider the plant's physical presence. Pallares engages with the history of Mexican art while infusing it with a contemporary sensibility. Her nopal is both a tribute to tradition and a reclamation of cultural iconography. This small print encapsulates a wealth of meaning, connecting personal identity to collective memory.