Watercolors of "La Tapada Limeña" wearing "la saya y el manto"
Ca. 1840-50. 11 very fine quality watercolors of Peruvian women wearing "la saya y manto", a style which spanned 300 years in Lima. Eight have carefully lettered text written below several prints - Saya de listas; saya desplegada (skirt unfolded); saya ajustada (fitted); Disfrasada (disguised); Limenas a Misa (Limenas at Mass); limeña quitándose la saya (limena taking off her skirt). The images are unsigned, but are finely detailed, reminiscent of images by Pancho Fierro. The depictions of the scarves are particularly lovely. Three images are of women with only one eye exposed.
"La Tapada Limeña" was a phenomenon that symbolized freedom and independence of the women for three centuries (1560-1850). One of the most intriguing features was the mantle that was wrapped in such a way to reveal just one eye. It allowed women to get in contact with the outside world, taunt, flirt, basically do whatever without staining their reputation." (Wikipedia & inmemoryoflatapada.blogspot)
Painted on wove paper 10 1/4 x 7 3/8". A couple have minor spots, otherwise in very good condition. Item #26437
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