The Pulque Seller or better known as "El pulquero" in Spanish, is a lithograph created by Mexican artist Hesiquio Iriarte between 1853 and 1855. As one of the most prominent illustrators of his time, Iriarte was commissioned by Mexican business leaders to contribute to publications featuring illustrated images that were distributed to subscribers at the time. One of the themes deemed necessary was the depiction of the Mexican population, in consequence, Mexican artists were sought out to create idealized images of peasants and residents of large cities.
In the lithograph in the center is the pulque server, wearing a long apron and wide-leg pants which were essential for his work. He also wears a hat made of a “jerga,” similar to an ordinary towel, and holds a glass of pulque in his right hand and a cup for holding pulque in his left.
Surrounding him multiple barrels of pulque can be seen on the floor, above, three shelves filled with vases for the production of pulque are located and on the left wall a hat, which probably belongs to the pulque vendor, is hanging there. In addition, the walls feature drawings of various scenes from people’s daily lives, such as the harvesting of the maguey plant which is used to make pulque or horses pulling carts loaded with merchandise.
Lithographs become integral part of mexican art culture to record day to day lifestyle. One such distinguished lithographic artist was Hesiquio Iriarte, who produced many artworks, and El Pulquero is one of them. Hesiquio Iriarte portrays a simple pulque seller with a glass in one hand and a pulque container in the other, wearing simple traditional attire. The ordinary lifestyle of the nineteenth century was significant for its simplicity. Hesiquio draws attention towards ordinary working people who were an essential part of the economy and culture.
El Pulquero works as a record of the traditional working-class and agricultural lifestyle and depicts the pride and dignity of everyday labour. As the saying goes, one must experience rural life to understand the cultural aspects of any country or civilization. This artwork helps bridge those gaps and helps them preserve without overlooking the significance of those days and activities.
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By: Isha Pal
Interestingly, on the upper-left wall behind the vendor, the faintly sketched illustration depicts a man dynamically raising a machete or saber in one hand while holding up a severed head or mask in the other. Rather than an ordinary daily scene, this is an allusion to theatrical, revolutionary or carnivalesque performance. During the chaotic mid-1850s, when Mexico was transitioning between dictatorships and civil conflict, inserting scenes of sudden violence or popular uprisings directly into the backgrounds of everyday street trades was a subtle way for artists like Iriarte to reflect the ambient political instability of Mexico City.
