Corazón Egoísta by Olga Costa (Interpretation and Analysis)

Corazón Egoísta
Source: Andrés Blaisten Museum

Like many of the Modernists artists of the twentieth century, Olga Costa’s life was shaped by war. Her family fled Germany for Mexico in the 1920s due to the political and economic fallout of World War I. Costa arrived in Mexico at the age of twelve and remained there for the rest of her life. The transition from grey, war-torn Europe to warm, colorful Mexico made a profound impact on Costa and her art.

Although she was born in Germany, Costa firmly embraced her adopted country and through herself into Mexican culture. Costa sought to capture the essence of Mexico in her art. She embraced elements of the Spanish Costumbrismo style, which sought to capture everyday life in a realistic manner. As the Andrés Blaisten Museum notes, her work captures “the very image of the Mexican, as it serenely represents the flow of daily life, in which one can see the magic in the common place, the landscape, the flowers, the people, in everything that is the fruit of the generosity of the earth.”

These elements of her work can be seen in her painting Corazón Egoísta (which translates to Selfish Heart), a still life that features objects related to Mexican culture on a white cloth. Though the exact meaning of the title is unclear, there is certainly an element of melancholy in this painting. A knife is driven through a heart-shaped prickly pear and the skull of a small animal stares at the viewer in the foreground. Fruit and seeds dominate the other half of the painting, creating a dichotomy between death and life. The contrast creates melancholic tension in the painting, capturing the viewer’s attention.

The simplicity of the composition and style makes the painting both very modern and timeless. The clarity and attention to detail recall the Realist movement of the nineteenth century. Costa’s work frequently transcended style designations. Her style was all her own, born out of her unique cultural heritage and deep commitment to Mexico.

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.