Sacred Land

Miguel Machuca | San Jose

2' 29" x 4' 53" | Charcoal on wood

Miguel Machuca was born in Jalisco, Mexico but spent most of his life in San Jose, CA. Known for his large-scale, high-contrast charcoal pieces, Machuca masterfully balances the light and the dark both in medium and subject matter. Sacred Land is a piece about the battle of Puebla that took place on May 5th, 1862, where poorly equipped mestizo and Zapotec force under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated invading French troops. This piece symbolizes the sacrifice and honor made by the Mexican people.