Module 7.1 Propaganda in art

THE PROPAGANDA IN ART: The Juan Luna Paintings

HISTORICAL CONTEXT: Spain in the 19th Century

  • French Invasion of 1808:

    • Led by Napoleon Bonaparte.

    • Introduced liberal ideas in Spain.

MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE AND SPANISH COLONIES

  • Mexican Independence (1821):

    • Marks a wave of independence across South American Spanish colonies.

    • Reformers and revolutionaries declared independence in various regions.

SPANISH RECONSIDERATION OF COLONIES

  • Impact of 1813 Investigations:

    • Spanish authorities reconsidered the status of distant colonies.

    • The Philippines remained a part of the Spanish Empire with no notable independence movements noted by the mid-1800s.

  • Sinibaldo de Mas's Mission (1841):

    • Sent by Queen Isabela II to investigate colonial conditions.

    • Arrival in Manila but met with distrust due to potential exposure of government irregularities.

    • Returned to Spain in 1842 with a report titled Informe.

INFORME: Laws of a Republic

  • Recommendations for Colonial Governance:

    • Maintain the islands as a colony indefinitely.

    • Restrict the privileges of Spaniards born in the Philippines.

    • Require the colored population to respect the Spaniards.

    • Call for thorough reforms in administration.

DE MAS: Vision for Emancipation

  • Call for Economic and Political Reforms:

    • Critiqued the undue power of the friars over civil authorities.

    • Proposed that proactive generosity would facilitate progress.

EUROPEAN CONTEXT: Spain in Flux

  • Political Pressures Post-French Invasion:

    • Spain faced a choice between a democratic government or a constitutional monarchy.

  • Joseph Bonaparte's Rule:

    • Joseph headed a puppet regime until 1813.

SPAIN'S DOMESTIC TURMOIL

  • Struggle Between Liberals and Conservatives:

    • Return of Ferdinand VII and subsequent handover to Queen Isabela II (1833).

    • Spain experienced civil strife, including the Revolution of 1868 that deposed Isabela II.

    • Restoration of monarchy with Alfonso XII in 1874, followed by Alfonso XIII.

ILUSTRADOS: Advocates for Reform

  • Graciano Lopez-Jaena (1880):

    • Critiqued friars in his work Fray Botod, depicting them as corrupt.

    • He transitioned from medicine studies to advocating for reform in politics.

JOSE P. RIZAL'S INFLUENCE

  • Arrival in Spain (1882):

    • Pursued medical studies with intentions to reform rather than seek independence.

    • Aimed for a change in status from colony to province, promoting full assimilation into Spain.

  • Rights for Indios:

    • Full citizenship status would enable representation in the Spanish Cortez and protection against abuses.

PROPAGANDA FOR REFORM

  • Objective of Reformation Through Publicity:

    • Aimed at Spanish legislators and officials to change the colonial status of the Philippines.

    • Initiated LA SOLIDARIDAD in 1889 to expose the realities faced in the Philippines.