Felix Laureano’s ‘Acopiando Leña’ (Gathering Firewood) offers a poignant portrayal of late 19th-century rural Filipino life, focusing on the laborious task of gathering firewood.
The image depicts individuals from a rural community engaged in this essential activity, showcasing their resilience and reliance on natural resources amidst lush surroundings typical of the Philippines during Laureano’s era.
Beyond a mere depiction of a daily chore, the photograph unveils broader socio-economic realities.
‘Acopiando Leña’, along with Laureano’s body of work, serves as a window into the past, offering future generations a deeper understanding of the Filipino experience and the everyday struggles and triumphs of rural life in the late 1800s to early 1900s.
Source: Biblioteca Nacional de España
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