Museum of Colonial Art Marks 57th Anniversary with Cecilia Valdés Print Exhibition

On August 1, the Museum of Colonial Art celebrated its 57th anniversary with the opening of the exhibition Cecilia Valdés: Illustrated Costumbrismo in Lines and Words, which explores a vibrant dialogue between literature and the visual arts through recreated scenes from Cirilo Villaverde’s immortal novel.

The exhibition pays tribute both to Villaverde’s literary masterpiece and to the distinctive artistic vision of the late printmaker Antonio Canet. Inspired directly by the novel’s descriptions and originally created for an illustrated edition of Cecilia Valdés, Canet’s engravings serve as the guiding thread of an immersive journey into the heart of 19th-century Cuban costumbrismo, according to the Cultural Program of Havana’s Office of the City Historian.

Villaverde’s novel and Canet’s engravings intertwine to reveal the complexities of Cuban society—from rigid social hierarchies and racial tensions to the opulence of the elite, the oppression of slavery, the importance of morality and social customs, and the role of women. Costumbrismo, both as a literary genre and a lens through which everyday life is observed, takes center stage. Through Canet’s meticulous lines and Villaverde’s incisive prose, visitors can explore period dress, social rituals, representative social types, and the settings that defined an era.

Canet’s engravings, widely admired for their authenticity, are more than graphic masterpieces; they serve as a visual bridge that brings Villaverde’s narrative to life. Each print captures the essence of a particular moment, character, or setting, faithfully complementing the novel’s storytelling.

Visitors to the exhibition can also experience recreated scenes from key moments in the novel, featuring period costumes and representative furnishings that evoke the atmosphere of colonial Havana. Rather than simply viewing the exhibition, audiences are invited to immerse themselves in its historical setting.

The exhibition transports visitors into elegant ballrooms, intimate studies, shaded courtyards, and bustling promenades, offering a firsthand glimpse of the customs and daily life portrayed in both the novel and Canet’s engravings.

Cecilia Valdés: Illustrated Costumbrismo in Lines and Words aims to provide a multidimensional museum experience, bringing together the appreciation of fine arts with a deeper understanding of social history, literature, and theater.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez