High, Low, and Beyond: The Question of Popular Art in Peru.

This essay examines the evolution of the category of "popular art" in Peru from the 1920s to the 1970s and its complex relationship with modern and postmodern artistic practices. Central to the discussion is the 1975 awarding of the National Prize for Culture in the field of art to Joaquín López Antay, a maker of traditional retablos, which challenged the established hierarchy separating "high" art and indigenous craft. The essay traces how indigenist painters like José Sabogal initially framed indigenous craft as "popular art" to bridge this divide, yet maintained a hierarchical distinction that ultimately collapsed with López Antay’s recognition. It further explores the critical responses to this event, including the emergence of alternative conceptions of popular art by the collective E.P.S. Huayco, who sought to transcend notions of cultural authenticity and national representation by engaging with urban popular culture and postmodern artistic forms. The analysis highlights ongoing tensions in defining Peruvian art within social, political, and economic contexts, questioning whether the capitalist art system is the sole framework for artistic expression in Peru.