casta

In 18th-century Spanish America, the existing social hierarchy, based on race and culture, struggled to categorize the increasingly mixed population. While formal labels proliferated, many people of mixed descent, known as castas, were well-integrated into Hispanic society and competed for positions. This led to a reaction from the elite, with attempts to reinforce racial distinctions through marriage restrictions. Despite these efforts, the casta population grew, blurring traditional social boundaries and challenging the established order.1

The term casta was also used in art to depict ethnic "types," with "caste paintings" illustrating the results of intermarriage between Europeans, Indigenous peoples, and Africans. These paintings often humorously portrayed the legal restrictions on marriage and assigned ironic names to mixed offspring, while still reflecting the daily life and customs of the era.2