Costumes of Michaelenses, Azores, Portugal (man wearing hat, facing right, carrying on shoulder pole with hoops on rear and unidentified objects on front) c. 1880s

Curator: This photograph, entitled "Costumes of Michaelenses, Azores, Portugal," is by A.J. Rapozo, though we unfortunately don’t have a date for it. Editor: He looks weary, doesn't he? The weight seems to press not only on his shoulders but on his spirit as well. Curator: The image captures a working man, likely a vendor, showcasing the traditional dress and tools of the Azores. It's a valuable document of cultural heritage. Editor: Those hoops stacked on his back—they seem to echo the relentless cycles of labor and resilience. A life carried, quite literally, on one’s back! Curator: Exactly, and the bare feet tell a story about social class and the realities of daily life in that period. These kinds of images gave visibility to people often ignored. Editor: I see it as a stark, yet strangely beautiful testament to the human capacity to endure. It’s like a visual poem of hard work. Curator: It makes me wonder how the circulation of these images affected perceptions of the Azores and its people. Editor: For me, it’s a reminder of the stories etched into every wrinkle and every laden step. Heavy, but true.