Mexican First Communions: Unidentified Native American Boy (1890s)


Figure 1.--We do note what appears to be a Mexican Native American boy doing his First Communion, we think in the late 19th century. Unfortunsately the boy is not identified. The boy had his portrait taken in one of Mexico City’s most prestigious photographic studios, Valleto & Cia.

We do note what appears to be a Mexican Native American boy doing his First Communion, we think in the late 19th century. Unfortunsately the boy is not identified. The boy had his portrait taken in one of Mexico City’s most prestigious photographic studios, Valleto & Cia. The indigenous boy wears a smart suit with a First Communion sleeve ribbon, fandal, and white gloves. At first glance we thought he was a girl, but the suit rather than white dress clearly shows he is a boy. The Valleto studio catered to Mexico’s elite. It is likely that this boy, whose waist-length hair appears recently unbraided, worked for a wealthy family who took responsibility for his religious education, or perhaps he had well-to-do padrinos, (godparents,) who commissioned the portrait. The long hair of the boy suggests that he lives the humble life of most indigenous Mexicans of a century ago. And that he retains contacts with a Native American community. The clothes he wears and the prominence of the studio which created this portrait make us wish we knew his story. In any case, he has an arrestingly self-possessed face.









HBC






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Created: 5:05 AM 5/31/2007
Last edited: 5:05 AM 5/31/2007