Francisco Clapera was an active painter in the 18th century colonial Mexico (New Spain). Specialist of the Casta painting genre, Clapera formulated images that depicted the hierarchical structure that existed in the society, subjugating specific races and classes. De Chino, e India, Genizara is one of Clapera's most studied casta paintings. It belongs to a larger series of works illustrating racial combinations in colonial Mexico. The title translates to "From a Chino man and an Indian woman, a Genizara is born." In Casta painting nomenclature, Chino did not refer to individuals having an East Asian roots or origin, rather it referred to certain mixed ancestral lineages that belonged to the African diaspora and Mestizo (Indian) regions. Genizara (Genizaro) refers to the child born from this union according to the casta system. Francisco Clapera occupies an important place in Mexican colonial art as a skilled painter whose casta works reveal both the artistic sophistication and the racial anxieties of 18th century New Spain.
The painting above presents a good example of art and paint in colonial South America. The artwork should by a Spanish artist gives us a glimpse into colonial tastes, perceptions- regarding the people they ruled and and their culture. The painting above gives an example of Spanish culture, brought in through colonization, becoming part of the native Mexicans- here reflected throught their dressing. Moreover, the reference of India and China reflects their desire to find routes to these Asian countries, especially India- the story of who's wealth were famed at that time in Europe. As a piece of art, this painting is a good example European realism though the subjects here belong to a different culture- a change in the common seen.
