The skin of Macondo: dermatological diseases in the narrative of Gabriel García Márquez

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29176/2590843X.2011

Keywords:

dermatology, Literature, Skin Diseases, art

Abstract

Gabriel García Márquez, the Colombian Nobel Prize winner in Literature, often uses diseases as symbols or metaphors in his work to reflect the human condition, destiny, suffering, and corruption (1). An analysis of his work reveals that García Márquez was familiar with medical matters; it is evident that he sought information from various sources to write with such accuracy, despite not being a physician by profession (1). Many of the pathologies mentioned in his texts manifest on the skin, which is why they are discussed in this article. To our knowledge, this is the first reflective article that specifically focuses on dermatological manifestations as expressions of literal or metaphorical disease in the works of Gabriel García Márquez.

Author Biographies

Bladimir Rodríguez-Lechtig, Universidad El Bosque. Bogotá, Colombia

Médico egresado de la Universidad El Bosque, residente de dermatología de la Universidad El Bosque.

Andrei Enciso-Jimenez, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia

Médico residente de dermatología en la Universidad El Bosque. 

Mariana Orduz-Robledo, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia

Departamento de Dermatología. Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia.

Sebastián Ramiro Gil-Quiñones, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia.

Departamento de Dermatología, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia. Grupo de Investigación: Dermatología Clínica e Infecciosa, Colciencias. Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia.

References

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How to Cite

1.
Rodríguez-Lechtig B, Enciso-Jimenez A, Orduz-Robledo M, Gil-Quiñones SR. The skin of Macondo: dermatological diseases in the narrative of Gabriel García Márquez. rev. asoc. colomb. dermatol. cir. dematol. [Internet]. 2025 Apr. 29 [cited 2026 Mar. 15];33(2). Available from: https://revistaasocoldermaorgco.biteca.online/index.php/asocolderma/article/view/2011

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Published

2025-04-29

How to Cite

1.
Rodríguez-Lechtig B, Enciso-Jimenez A, Orduz-Robledo M, Gil-Quiñones SR. The skin of Macondo: dermatological diseases in the narrative of Gabriel García Márquez. rev. asoc. colomb. dermatol. cir. dematol. [Internet]. 2025 Apr. 29 [cited 2026 Mar. 15];33(2). Available from: https://revistaasocoldermaorgco.biteca.online/index.php/asocolderma/article/view/2011

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Reflection article
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