This rare piece is ideal for collectors of feminist art, outsider art, Latin American folk traditions, and provocative visual storytelling. Striking, satirical, and layered with symbolism, this original 2003 oil painting by Cuban artist Macario Naranjo captures the bold storytelling of Cuban folk art with sharp social commentary. Titled La Jinetera Florinda (translated to “The Prostitute Florinda”), the piece portrays a woman-identified in Cuban slang as a jinetera (prostitute)-breastfeeding an adult man. While playful at first glance, the work offers a potent feminist critique of gender roles, survival, and power dynamics in post-revolutionary Cuba. Feminist Commentary: Florinda is both a sex worker and a maternal figure – turning traditional gender expectations on their head. She appears calm and in control, while the man is dependent, reversing the typical power structure. Social Judgment: The watchful eye in the top right may symbolize government surveillance, religious scrutiny, or societal moralism – a reminder that women’s bodies are constantly policed, no matter their choices. Cuban Housing References: The original label on the back mentions “permuta” (house swaps) and “barbacoa” (makeshift loft spaces), nodding to the economic reality many women navigated by trading relationships for housing and stability. Naïve Folk Style: The flat perspective, bold colors, and exaggerated forms enhance the storytelling, inviting viewers to explore humor, hardship, and hypocrisy all at once. Artist: Macario Naranjo. Title: La Jinetera Florinda. Medium: Oil on unstretched canvas. Style: Folk / Outsider Art / Political Figurative. Dimensions: 13×25″ including roughly a 1″ border of raw canvas to wrap around a stretch frame. Condition: Good vintage condition with some minor wear and cracks. Original Estudio Naranjo label affixed to the back.
