Photographing the Nation: Early Female Photographers in Mexico 1870-1930

Abstract

This analysis examines photographs created by three female photographers in Mexico: Alice Le Plongeon, Sara Castrejón, María Santibáñez, and how their images are reflective of the political and social-cultural environment in which they were created. These images span 1870-1930 and highlight elite conceptions of national identity, the role women played in forming this national narrative. This thesis provides a multidisciplinary approach that examines the photographic composition, the identity, and background of the photographer as well as the context in which the images were created and viewed. Additional primary documents including written publications, journals, and magazine publications have also been utilized when applicable. To contextualize these images to illustrate how they are connected to a larger narrative of self-expression and identity formation, a variety of secondary sources have been utilized. The analysis also focuses on the individual lives of each photographer, their contributions to the field, and how each woman challenged the boundaries of what was perceived to be socially acceptable.