MARIA PARADO DE BELLIDO

• MARIA PARADO DE BELLIDO (2008) series –  1/25
• Serigraphs – 19.7 x 27.6 inches (70 x 50 cm.)
• Numbered – original artist signature – watermark – certificate
• Hand printing over cotton paper.

A fascinating part of history is its legends and their characters. Those characters are often anonymous or have little to no data-trace, but whose achievements were recognized, thanks to the local people’s stories. That is the case of Maria Parado de Bellido, a woman from the province of Ayacucho. It is said that she was probably born in Huamanga or Paras between 1760-1770 and had seven children. She preferred to march straight to the scaffold and be executed for being discovered as a “spy” before betraying other patriots. It is said that she suffered this martyrdom well after her 60 years of age.

“When I think of María Parado, I think of my grandmother Angelica and all the women in the outskirts of the country who practically fled to the capital intending to give their children, or themselves, a better life. María Parado is, without a doubt, our ‘heroine’ whose powers are her courage, principles, dignity, and struggle. Many of these women, like my grandmother, had to apply these powers to bring their children forth on their own.” —Cherman