The painting "El descubrimiento del pulque" (The Discovery of Pulque) by Mexican artist José María Obregón, painted in the year 1869, due to the restauration of the Mexican Republic in 1867, the National School of Bellas Artes in Mexico City started promoting the interest towards pre-hispanic Mexican history as part of a liberal cultural project, which aimed to reinforce the national identity through art. In consequence, José María Obregón took inspiration of an important episode of Mexican history during the Tolteca Era. The painting depicts Xóchitil, an indigenous girl followed by her family, who can be seen offering the King Tula a small vase filled with a drink, which according the tradition she discovered. The King Tula, short after impressed by her beauty decided to marry her. In addition, in the background a multitude of people can be seen, witnessing the act and discussing it, a historical moment of the birth of one of the most important drinks in the culinary history of Mexico.
Years after historians started questioning the truth of this legend, after researching it, an error had been found in the interpretation of the historical texts, as the drink which was originally been presented to the King Tula was in fact not Pulque, but a candy flavoured drink. However, the historical importance of the painting was preserved, as an example of the building of a national identity during the 19th century.
The Discovery of Pulque represents more than the legendary origin of an important traditional Mexican beverage. José María Obregón uses the scene to celebrate Mexico’s Indigenous heritage and to construct a sense of national identity following the restoration of the Mexican Republic. Xóchitl’s presentation of the drink symbolizes the value of Indigenous knowledge, while the king’s acceptance reflects the recognition of that cultural legacy. Although historians later questioned the historical accuracy of the legend, the painting remains significant because it illustrates how nineteenth-century artists used pre-Hispanic themes to foster national pride and cultural unity. The gathering of witnesses further emphasizes that the event is portrayed as a defining moment in Mexico’s shared historical memory.
