Yolanda Lopez
Yolanda López focused much of her work on the experience of Mexican American women, as well as the stereotypes these women faced based on ethnicity and gender. She was celebrated internationally for her series of works titled Virgen de Guadalupe that depicted the everyday Mexican American woman. Often times showing her grandmother or López herself, these pieces were praised for giving credit to this mostly overlooked group of women, and they depicted domestic labor and other similar tasks. She took part in social movements, and created political posters, including some that drew lots of attention. Overall, many of her works were emotionally and politically charged, meant to make the viewer think and question what they believed to be true.
Three Generations of Mujeres is a piece that directly depicts López, her mother, and her grandmother. Each generation of her family is presented in a solitary, strong stance that shows the way López viewed herself, as well as the women closest to her. Likewise, she does not attempt to make the portraits appear ‘perfect’ by societal standards. She is simply showing those she loves in the way she sees them, as well as getting the image of Mexican American women to her viewers. The emotions presented are purely hers, but resonate with women of similar backgrounds. As stated previously, she was praised for these kind of works, as they gave a voice to the women who were often denied one.