A tortilla vendor balancing a tray on his head, from a group of drawings depicting Peruvian dress 1843 - 1853

Francisco Fierro, also known as ‘Pancho’ Fierro, created this watercolor drawing of a tortilla vendor in 19th century Peru. Fierro, a mixed-race artist, captured the vibrant street life of Lima. His work offers a window into a society marked by its colonial past. Fierro’s art provides a lens through which we can examine the intersection of race, class, and labor in post-colonial Peru. In this image, a man, likely of indigenous or mixed-race descent, balances a tray of tortillas on his head. This was a common sight in Lima at the time. This scene encapsulates the daily life and economic activities of marginalized communities. Fierro's images documented the lives of ordinary people often overlooked in official histories. He offers us not just a depiction but an invitation to reflect on the stories and struggles embedded in the everyday lives of Lima’s inhabitants.