A soldier on horseback holding a rope that secures an enslaved indigenous man who is balancing a basket on his head; from a group of drawings depicting Peruvian dress 1843 - 1853

This watercolor by Francisco "Pancho" Fierro, titled "A soldier on horseback holding a rope that secures an enslaved indigenous man who is balancing a basket on his head; from a group of drawings depicting Peruvian dress," depicts a poignant scene of colonial subjugation in Peru. The drawing, created between 1843 and 1853, showcases a soldier on horseback, his hand firmly holding a rope that tethers an indigenous man carrying a basket on his head. The soldier's imposing presence and the rope’s constraint symbolize the power dynamics of the time, highlighting the unequal relationship between the colonizers and the indigenous population. Fierro's drawing, part of a larger series documenting Peruvian dress, provides a glimpse into the social realities of 19th-century Peru, showcasing the complexities of race, power, and cultural interaction in colonial societies.