Photography by Edward C. Robison III.
Humanscape 70 (Comic Whitewash)
Six male superheroes perform daring feats in front of a starry black background. Mel Casas punctuates the scene with streaks of white paint and the declaration “comic whitewash.” This underscores an obvious truth: historically, most superheroes are white, and people of color rarely see themselves represented among the pantheon of heroes. Putting a face to this exclusion, a young Latino boy looks away from the scene despondently.
ArtistMelesio Casas, 1929–2014
Date1973
MediumAcrylic on canvas
Dimensions72 3/4 x 97 x 2 1/4 in.
Mark(s)verso, u.c., on frame, black stamp: 96 / CRAFT CUT / BOX 457, SANTA FE, MM
verso, c.r., on frame, black stamp: 72 / CRAFT CUT / BOX 457, SANTA FE, MM
verso, l.c., on frame, black stamp: 96 / CRAFT CUT / BOX 457, SANTA FE, MM
verso, u.l., on frame, sticker on hangtag: MC_ / 42 / Mel Casas / Humanscape 70, October 1973 / MC2021.06.42
verso, u.r., on frame, sticker on hangtag: MC_ / 42 / Mel Casas / Humanscape 70, October 1973 / MC2021.06.42
Inscription(s)verso, u.l., on frame, black marker: Humanscape 70
verso, u.l., on frame, black and red marker: Acrylic/c. [circled c] C '73 72" x 91"
verso, l.r., on frame, black marker: XX/2
Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2022.32
ClassificationPainting
ProvenanceArtist; to The Mel Casas Family Trust, San Antonio, TX; purchased by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR, 2022
On ViewNo
This artwork's face covers about 6.5× the area of a standard movie poster.Drawn to the same scale.