Summary
Tulane University Howard-Tilton Memorial Library of Early Images of Latin America Collection, Source: Box 2, Disk 2 South American Glass Images, Collection 56, #SA01-0175, ‘’Girl Carrying A Pitcher’’
This image depicts a young girl carrying a pitcher, of what can be assumed to be filled with water, on her head. Although the location is unnamed it seems to be a pretty desolated area. She is pictured in a long dress while being barefoot staring right into the viewer's eyes. Despite this being a rather simple and straightforward picture, I still see depth within it and connected it back to a reading from a previous assignment. In “Popular Liberalism and Indian Servitude: The Making and Unmaking Of Ecuador’s Anti-landlord State,1845-1868” it had stated early on that Ecuador’s president, Jose Maria Ervina had called for a passage of legislation to protect over Indian Pueblo’s from water source appropriations (whether if the amount of water being requested is reasonable for a stated purpose).
As mentioned before the location of the photo remains unknown but the date of origin of this photo is presumed to be taken between 1850 and 1900 which perfectly fits within this time frame of this legislation. In class we repeatedly hear the word liberalism (not meaning the same thing as how liberalism is defined in today's society) and know that liberalism with a little ‘’l’’ was defined as all men are equal, universal standard of legal roles and free trade. Now with this in mind we can go back to the previously mentioned article and refer back to what was stated in the beginning as well. “Ecuador’s indigenas, he laminated, were too often a casualty of exploitation— their resources divested and extorted by a class of feudal lords… Ervina denounced the country's deplorable history of half hearted state protection of the indigenous class and affirmed his commitment to guaranteeing community rights against powerful Serrano landlord interests. Sympathizing with the plight of Pueblo’s that were being squeezed dry.’’ With this we learn that Ervinas goal was to protect the indigenous Pueblo’s from being exploited any further when it came to their water sources specifically. We see how he suggested that the uprising has been happening because of the exploitation that comes from the feudal landlords. He makes it clear how he does not want the “aggressiveness” to reach a point where the government has to resort to violence when all the Indians wanted was to simply protest and fight for their assumed deserved rights.
As I said before, although others might look at this photo and think nothing of it, when I first came across the photo it made me immediately think back to this article. Specifically because it pertains to the ideas of liberalism and relates to a legislation that has to do with water source appropriations. With the picture quite literally showing a young girl holding a pitcher of water on her head, the connection I made was connected and brought to life even more.
Work cited:
-Tulane University Howard-Tilton Memorial Library of Early Images of Latin America Collection
-Popular Liberalism and Indian Servitude: The Making and Unmaking Of Ecuador’s Anti-landlord State,1845-1868
