In the 1860's a certain French painter created a kind of Mexican version of a painting made by a Spaniard of an execution in Spain dating back to May 1808. What is similar about the vestimentary outfit of the central characters and victims in both paintings?

queproblema

I believe you refer to Edouard Manet's "The Execution of Maximilian," Napoleon III's puppet emperor in Mexico, and Francisco Goya's "The Third of May," a depiction of the execution of nameless madrilenos who rose up against Napoleon I. The firing squad in both paintings is composed of uniformed soldiers and the immediate victim is dark-skinned and wearing a long-sleeved white shirt. In Goya's painting his arms are upraised and outstretched; in Manet's they are outstretched but with fists clenched downwards. I would have to point out that in Manet's painting Maximilian is still awaiting his death, and the man being shot is one of his generals. He made at least four versions of this painting. I'm including a similar painting inspired by the victims of Tiananmen Square. http://nymag.com/arts/art/reviews/23765/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Third_of_May_1808 http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/12/china.artist/index.html Nov 19 07, 8:40 AM

Flem-ish

Thanks for the "Chinese version". A few more versions of Maximilian's execution can be found here. http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/2006/Manet/detail_fiveworks.htm Manet and the Execution of Maximilian | Manet's five key works Nov 19 07, 8:51 AM