Photography uses in the central commissions of Mexico’s Centennial of Independence and Porfirio Diaz’s correspondence, 1910

Abstract

This article analyzes the use of Mexican photography as expressions of nationalism and identity formation, as well as the cult of the presidential figure in the framework of the Centennial of Independence in 1910. The material analyzed here has two fundamental features: a) proof photographs were procured for the National Commission by local commissions, some of which did not even have photographers; and b), the requests for autographed photographs were made by individuals close to or fond of President Porfirio Díaz. In this way, this exploration questions the importance of the image-issuing subject, as well as the adaptations to visual language with or without access to photography. The conclusions thus relate the administrative and identity uses of photography in 1910 as imaginary compositions of two types of time: the heroic time, with Porfirio Díaz as a living hero; and the local space time, where what prevailed was the importance of creating a postcard that addressed the needs of integration in the commemoration’s political language.