The photo above, called “Gaucho Portrait”, shows a gaucho, or an Argentenian cowboy, leaning on his horse. This drawing belonged to a postcard and was drawn in black and white using mainly the stipple method. The Gaucho is proud, but comfortable, and dressed effectively for his long hours in the Argentenian sun; a hat over his head, a long coat and tall boots with a heel. Tools, including the rope draped over his horse’s hind quarters, are present for him to utilize when needed during his work day. His horse shares a similar expression; proud and tall, but looking in the same direction. The horse is not overly well-kempt, but practical. His tail is bang-cut very short while his mane and forelock are left naturally.
The rise of the gaucho was a product of Latin America’s win in the war for independence against Spain. Much like the ranchers in Mexico, or rancheros, they sought to keep their communities safe from any outsiders during the years following the newly won war. They refused to define themselves by race, as many of them weren’t strictly white or European, but believed that they shared similar distinctive qualities which gave them the right to defend by arms if necessary. In addition to defending their communities, they worked long hours raising, breaking and training horses, raising, buying and selling cattle, tending to their land, and maintaining any structures or fencing that are likely to have wear and tear with animals. This lifestyle was rugged and strenuous, but gauchos became iconic symbols for independence and freedom. Their presence has become that of an Argentinian ideal for nationalism and tradition.
National Geographic has covered the gaucho lifestyle, which still lives on in Argentina with about 150,000 remaining members. Many are born into the lifestyle. Their overall appearance in comparison to the drawing above has remained almost entirely identical. The clothing of the gaucho has not evolved like mainstream fashion over the past two centuries, but it has remained the same in style and is just utterly practical. The tack used on their horses is also simple and practical, using minimal leather and mostly thickly padded cloth underneath the leather to improvise for the lack of modern flocking materials, like wool or foam. This “no frills” lifestyle that remains in “el campo”, the countryside, makes for tough, durable horses that require minimal maintenance to stay both fit and healthy–an uncommon occurrence for many horse breeds today. They live off the land and adapt to the changing seasons, which is a struggle often described by gaucho as “beautiful”.
Guachos | National Georgraphic. Youtube, uploaded by National Geographic, 2007, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7KovwMiHJ4.
Dawson, Alexander. Latin America since Independence: A History with Primary Sources. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2015.