Identify the work before the label
Look for the title, creator and original medium of an image. The INAH and AGN references discuss Mexican cultural history and changing uses of the skull. A modern product title using Catrina does not establish that it reproduces a particular historic work accurately.
Questions for reading an image
- Is it a skull, a skeletal figure or makeup worn by a person?
- What clothing or hat appears in the work?
- Who is credited and where is the original documented?
- Is the description historical or a contemporary adaptation?
Use cultural names carefully
Flowers and bright colors alone do not identify La Catrina. If you use a reference in a drawing, decoration or product description, explain the relationship that is actually documented. Do not infer Mexican manufacture or traditional community use from the motif.
Sources and method
Decalavera’s editorial criteria and examples use AI assistance and documentary checking. References support their specific cultural or technical context; they do not certify products or represent physical tests. Sources from other jurisdictions are not presented as US product certification.
- INAH — La Catrina, un ícono de Día de Muertos ↗
- Archivo General de la Nación — La imagen de la calavera en México ↗