Golden Treasure in the City of Silver
12-oz Bohemia lager, Taxco, Mexico

Another photo from Ramirez y Borracho's early period, "Golden Treasure in the City of Silver" reflects the artist's early emphasis on salt-of-the-earth themes. Perched on a hillside above Taxco, the Bohemia bottle looks down over cobblestone streets and red tile roofs, symbols of Mexico's humble roots, with the church in the distance representing Mexico's deep religious faith.

Himself a devout Catholic, Ramirez y Borracho nevertheless had a tumultuous relationship with church heirarchy -- as did Mexico itself. The church originally supported the artist's work through grants and other assistance. For example, the bishop of Taxco allegedly provided funding for Ramirez y Borracho's visit to the city, and hence the cathedral appearing in "Golden Treasure" reportedly was a form of "product placement" offered as compensation for the money.

But, like many other Mexican artists, Ramirez y Borracho grew tired of the ossified nature of the church bureaucracy and its ham-fisted attempts to control artistic expression. His work grew more nationalistic in nature, and he began to explore the rich cultural heritage that Mexico possessed before the colonization by Cortes and the arrival of the Catholic church.


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