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For the 2005 storm, see Hurricane Katrina.

For other storms with this name, see Tropical Storm Katrina (disambiguation).

La Calavera de la Catrina is a 1913 zinc etching by Mexican engraver and printmaker José Guadalupe Posada. It was part of his series of calaveras, which were humorous images of contemporary figures depicted as skeletons, often accompanied by a poem.

The word "catrina" is the feminine form of the word "catrín", which means "dandy". The figure, depicted in an ornate hat fashionable at the time, is intended to show that the rich and fashionable, despite their pretensions to importance, are just as susceptible to death as anyone else.

La Catrina, as it is commonly known, was a popular print in Posada's day, but soon faded from the popular memory. It, like the rest of Posada's prints, was revived by a French artist and art historian Jean Charlot shortly after the Mexican Revolution. La Catrina soon gained iconic status as a symbol of a uniquely Mexican art, and was reproduced en masse. The image was incorporated into Diego Rivera's mural Dream of a Sunday in Alameda Park, which also includes images of Posada, Rivera himself, and his wife Frida Kahlo. The image has since become a staple of Mexican imagery, and is often incorporated into artistic manifestations of the Day of the Dead such as altars and calavera costumes. It has also been reinterpreted in numerous forms, including sculpture.

La Catrina Cuarteto de Cordes, a rising Mexican String Quartet, takes their name from this character of Mexican lore. According to Mexican Folklore, “La Catrina” —also known as death— can show herself in many different ways. Sometimes she is dressed in a rather elaborate, festive way. Sometimes she appears before us in “bare bones,” to take us away when we least expect it. Generally, however, the relationship which the Mexican people have with La Catrina, is defined by a unique set of circumstances, intimately tied with the history and culture of Mexico. Death in Mexico is thought of as a welcome guest on certain very important occasions, such as the Day of the Dead, or “día de los fieles difuntos.” As Mexicans, we believe that death, and specifically the memory of our “fieles difuntos,” which literally means “our faithful deceased,” gives us a strong sense of identity and rootedness in our culture. This conspicuous —and perennial— guest is paradoxically also associated with the joy of life in the face of the imminence and inevitability of death. We only live once and La Catrina, with her mischievous smile, pleads with us to seize the moment and through music —and perhaps a little dance—, find life’s meaning.de:La Catrina es:La Catrina