Jíbaro from 18th Century Art

Fascinating self-portrait of Luis Paret y Alcázar, Spanish painter living in Puerto in the late 18th century. Likely meant for humorous purposes and a reflection on his exile in one of the most neglected and perhipheral Spanish colonies, Puerto Rico. The interesting thing about this is the representation of jíbaros by elites as a type of 'proto-national' identity in the tradition of jíbaro masquerades as studied by Francisco Scarano and the continuity of in the visualization (plantains, hat, dress, barefoot or sandals, uncouth, etc.). Scarano places this painting in a broader context of creole elites using the mythologized image of the peasant for oppositional politics.

Check out Scarano's article here and while you're at is, see this depiction of a jíbaro from the 20th century album by Ramito. Note the machete, plantains, hat, and the jíbaro image has pretty much survived intact since the 18th century.