standing purple and blue bird seen from PR, squawking, with beak open

%C2%A9 Estate Luis Jimenez %2F Artists Rights Society %28ARS%29%2C New York

Chula, 1987

Color lithographexpand_more

The Plautz Family Endowmentexpand_more  2014.121.3

Not on Viewexpand_more

In Latino culture, “chula” is Spanish slang for “pretty woman” or “sweetie.” Here, Jimènez uses the word as the title for his exuberant rendering of a great-tailed grackle, a bird native to Texas and the American Southwest known for its violet-blue iridescent plumage, long tail feathers, and distinctive, ear-splitting call.

Sometimes called the “devil bird,” this grackle is a boisterous mischief-maker well adapted to urban environments. Jimènez satirically plays on this notion by equating this flamboyant, but irritating bird with street-wise Latino men who deliver catcalls to Latino women.

Details
Title
Chula
Artist Life
1940–2006
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2014.121.3
Provenance
[Segura Arts Studio, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, until 2014; sold to MIA]
Curator Approved

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standing purple and blue bird seen from PR, squawking, with beak open

© Estate Luis Jimenez / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

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