Dress of the Inhabitants of La Conception

This 1829 image of Inhabitants of La Conception, Chile is one that exemplifies the sentiments and practices of Chileans at the time. Created by an unknown artist, this take on the busy port town of mid-west Chile exemplifies the kind of social change that was occurring after their struggle for independence. The location of the print is vital to understanding the significance of the image, as La Conception had just declared Independence within the plaza of the port town. After a tiring few years, it was decided that Chile needed to start their own government — away from Spanish control. Of course, this came with many different perspectives. There were multiple presidential elections following the relatively less-brutal War of Independence. Once the framework for governmental proceedings was set, there seemed to be a bit of stability. However, in 1829, when this print was made, the conservatives took it upon themselves to revolt against the new liberal president. This created a civil war that lasted over a year leading to a liberal defeat. 

Although not elaborating on much of the history, this print is able to exemplify many of the sentiments from this confusing time. The main subjects of this piece are the very European looking people at the port — the kind of people that revolted against the Chilean-liberal government. Conservatives, at the end of Independence, wanted the hierarchies to remain in Latin America. This means that more European people were at the top of social order, which is seen here. The subjects are wearing immaculate dresses and do not seem to be overworked, like many others at this time. They seem to be involved in some sort of importing or exporting business, as there are ships moving in the background.  Similarly, there is a lot of interaction between the characters of the piece, which could signify their social standing and network. It could also exemplify the kind of community it takes to revolt against a government.

Works Cited:

Clissold, Stephen. Bernardo O’Higgins and the Independence of Chile. London: Rupert Hart-Davis, 1968.

Chasteen, John Charles. 2001. Born in Blood and Fire : A Concise History of Latin America. 1st ed. New York: Norton.

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. “Dress of the inhabitants of La Conception.” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed January 29, 2020. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-1349-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

By Lily Walters