La Escuela del Maestro Rafael Cordero by Francisco Oller (Interpretation and Analysis)
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| La Escuela del Maestro Rafael Cordero Source: Wikipedia |
The title, La Escuela del Maestro Rafael Cordero, translates to the The School of Rafael Cordero. As this title suggests, the painting depicts a school that was founded by Puerto Rican educator Rafael Cordero. Cordero’s school was unique because it was open to the children of slaves and former slaves, although it also accepted children from other social classes and backgrounds. Such a school, which encouraged people of different social classes to mix and exchange ideas, was unique at the time. Children of different races can be seen playing and learning together in Oller’s painting, a novel scene in a time period in which barriers between differing social and cultural groups were just starting to dissolve.
Cordero himself is pictured here as well. He gazes at the viewer with a serious, stoic expression. According to my research, “Cordero's expression is exasperated and exhausted; despite this, he persists in providing education to the children...Oller portrayed his subject as glamorous, as an ‘unsung hero’.”
As you can probably imagine, the painting would have seemed rather bold and modern to contemporary viewers. Oller himself was quite a progressive painter. He was particularly dedicated to causes of social justice, and his work celebrates the lives of everyday Puerto Rican, portraying their struggles with nuance and compassion.
This dedication can be observed in this painting, which champions the cause of education for all people from all backgrounds. On a broader scale, the painting can be seen as a celebration of Puerto Rican multiculturalism, proudly presenting an image of a pluralistic and vital society.
Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.
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