The Return to Aztlán

The title refers both to the mythical homeland of the Aztec people and to the cultural realm of greater Mexico. Aztlán was said to be located in the Southwest of the United States. Along with California, this region formed the northern half of Mexico until the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, ending the Mexican American War (1846–48). 

In invoking Aztlán, this painting participates in a decolonial Chicano (Mexican American) cultural and artistic tradition that re-establishes the Mexican cultural lineage of the southwest.  

Inspired by the ornate textiles, tapestries, and totemic motifs of his birthplace, Michoacán, Mexico, Arreguín overlaps shapes, lines, and colors, often forming a picture within a picture. 

Look at the patterns and colors in The Return to Aztlán. In what way(s) has the artist, Alfredo Arreguín, used style (color, pattern, lines, and forms) to connect these social justice activists across history?   

How do the colors and patterns affect your understanding of the individuals depicted?  

 In the ensuing Mexican War for Independence (1810–21), José María Morelos became the movement’s leader after the Spanish captured and executed Hidalgo. The unpopular laws and practices of the Spanish were overthrown in 1821, and as a result, Mexico gained its independence. 

Less than a century later, Mexico experienced a violent revolution (1910–20). Emiliano Zapata led the fight against governmental corruption, which allowed privileged plantation owners to deny workers their basic rights. After nearly a decade of fighting, reforms were made. 

Huerta and Chávez organized the Delano Grape Boycott, their most widespread protest, in 1965. The boycott put pressure on the California grape industry to change its unfair practices. After five years, the boycott proved successful when twenty-six grape growers signed an agreement that secured benefits and fair conditions for workers. 

Why has the artist brought these people together for this composition? What connections can we make among the subjects?  

 

How does the portrait show a sense of shared identity? Which global influences are reflected in this portrait? 

According to the artist, the painting “celebrates the traditions of independence and social justice that have been essential in the development of Mexican and Chicano identities.” How can we explore the ways in which these heroic subjects continue to serve as examples in the Latinx community?