Martin Fierro (1962)

Martin Fierro is a masterpiece of artistry and a testament to the Gauchos of Argentina. Written in two parts, El Gaucho Martin Fierro was published in 1872 and the second, La Vuelta en Martin Fierro in 1879. With 2,316 lines of poetry, this book depicts the lifestyle and struggle of the rural people in the pampas region (frontiers) of Argentina and recalls the importance of their role in their country's independence from Spain and the civil wars that followed. Gauchos were renowned for their horsemanship, their ability to survive and thrive, their cunning wit, their hospitality and their unique style of oration and song. This poem is a dedication, a political statement and a protest song written in their payada style.

This version of the poem was published in 1962. It is beautifully illustrated by Juan C. Castagnino with a combination of bold line drawings and minimal swaths of color using ink on paper. The book itself is 11 inches wide by 15 inches tall and vacillates between two and three columns of lettering across each page depending on the illustrations that accompany it.  The consistency and continuity of style and art merge into a powerful statement visually as well as with its words. 

Sources

1.“Portland State University Single Sign-On,” n.d., https://go-gale-com.proxy.lib.pdx.edu/ps/i.do?p=LitRC&u=s1185784&id=GALE%7CA628285291&v=2.1&it=r&sid=summon&aty=ip.

2. TheHuasoHussar. “MartíN Fierro - Argentine Animated Film - With Subtitles,” January 6, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5sWeuFaOzM.

3. “The Gauchos,” n.d. https://rarebooks.library.nd.edu/exhibits/riverplate/08-gauchos/index.html

4. "Sign In - Google Accounts,” n.d., https://www.proquest.com/docview/1432987408/C1ADA6A724EF46ACPQ/2?accountid=13265&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals.