Thursday, 28 March 2024

Textile Details

'Recogiendo Leña/Fetching Firewood' by Angela Vásquez González, Women Sewing History Workshop, Badalona. (Photo: Roser Corbera)
'Recogiendo Leña/Fetching Firewood' by Angela Vásquez González, Women Sewing History Workshop, Badalona. (Photo: Roser Corbera)

 

Title of Textile:Recogiendo Leña / Fetching Firewood
Maker: Angela Vásquez González, Women Sewing History Workshop, Badalona
Country of Origin: Catalonia
Year Produced: 2009
Size (cm): 51cm x 45cm
Materials: Scraps of material hand sewn onto burlap
Type of Textile: Arpillera
Description:

At the height of the Franco regime, in the 1940s, the daily life of the population was transformed by the economic policies of the dictatorship. With the privatisation of land that was previously collectively owned, the Guardia Civil became responsible for the security of landowners. Consequently, common daily activities of people, such as collecting firewood, had to be done with increased caution.

Ángela started collecting wood when she was only nine to help her widowed mother care for her four children and elderly father. While Ángela was working at home, her mother was "Working in the houses of rich people, washing their clothes, to be able to provide food for us. She couldn't help me collect the firewood, so I had to do so myself and get it ready for her to do the cooking when she came home."

At the time, nearly all basic necessities were in short supply, which is evident because she shows herself collecting wood without any shoes. All this happened as women came to take the lead role in the family.

Of the 69 women that participated in the Women Sewing History workshop, Ángela was the only one who wanted to make two arpilleras. Not being completely satisfied with the quality of this arpillera, she asked her daughter to help her complete a second one, "El recuerdo de esta historia". Both are about the war and post-war period and told in the first person.

Owner: Fundació Ateneu Sant Roc collection
Location: Badalona, Spain
Original / Replica: Original
Photographer: Roser Corbera
Provenance: Fundació Ateneu Sant Roc arpillera programme.



Textile exhibited at: The Human Cost of War, 8/11/2009 - 21/11/2009



Textile Detail Image(s)