'Death Cart'
Brandon Maldonado
oil + acrylic on panel
34 x 29" (framed)
 
Death Cart
This piece depicts a perhaps uniquely New Mexican folk character known as Doña Sebastiana. She symbolically represents Death itself, similar to the Grim Reaper and is most commonly depicted in a cart. Her image was and is used by the Hermanos of the Penitente Brotherhood. During ceremonies the cart is brought out and pulled in procession by an Hermano; she is often attached to the brother by a horse hair rope which leaves lacerations on the body of the puller as a result. Doña Sebastiana is seen as representing Death constantly following us and is a reminder to the Hermanos that she is always present.