Malintzin

This image of Malintzin is from AZTECS at Mexicolore (http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/index.php?one=azt&two=ask&tab=ans&id=4). It is part of a folding screen mural completed in 1976 by Roberto Cueva del Río. In his mural, he portrays the meeting of the Spaniards and the Aztecs in 1519. This is a very interesting portrayal of their meeting. On one side, you have the Spaniards in their armor and holding weapons. I believe Cueva del Río makes the Spaniards look as if they come peacefully: Cortés is holding a rosary out to Moctezuma, they are holding a banner with the Virgin Mary on it, and they have a cross. However, he also shows a dark and villainous side as well. They have a lot of weapons and armor, there is a devilish looking creature on the cannon in the foreground, and the horses in the sky with lances. The Spaniards look very dangerous and should not be reckoned with. On the other side of the mural, Cueva del Río has the Aztecs and they look more peaceful, or less intimidating, than the Spaniards. Moctezuma is holding out a necklace to exchange with Cortés, and around him there are Natives kneeling. I am not sure, but I do believe some of the Natives are dressed in battle gear and are holding weapons as well but they do not look as intimidating as the Spaniards. Also, the figures in the sky look worried as compared to the horses over the Spaniards.

In the center of the mural you have Moctezuma, Malintzin, and Cortés. Moctezuma and Malintzin are shown talking while Cortés is silent. The Moctezuma and Malintzin are more symmetrical and balanced with one another in the center of the mural. Behind Malintzin, Cortés is a little off center. This gives Malintzin an important role in the mural and demonstrates that she played a significant role in the Spanish “conquest.”  

This is a more modern depiction of the interaction but I think it does a decent job at portraying Malintzin and I believe Townsend would agree that this is a good portrayal of her. Like many of the pictures Townsend uses on pages 67 through 75, Malintzin is in front of Cortés speaking to Natives and Moctezuma. She is not sexualized nor seen as Cortés’ lover as other artists may have portrayed her. In Cueva del Río’s mural, she looks as if she does not fit in with either group. She is different. She is wearing a plain looking dress or robe and does not have face paint or holding any weapons as compared to the Spaniards who are wearing armor and the Natives who are wearing very colorful dressings. She looks very peaceful and friendly. This supports Townsend’s idea that she was an outsider; she was betrayed by her own people yet she was not a Spaniard. I think Townsend would agree with Roberto Cueva del Río’s portrayal of Malintzin.