La Partera or The Midwife
by Victoria De Almeida
Title
La Partera or The Midwife
Artist
Victoria De Almeida
Medium
Painting - Acrylic On Canvas
Description
My piece titled, La Partera or The Midwife, came from my own family history. Growing up I had heard stories about my great grandmother Carmelita Anaya, or as she was lovingly called Mieta. She was a midwife and curandera in Galisteo, New Mexico. She was born in 1884 and raised 10 children of her own and delivered most of the babies in Galisteo at that time. When her daughter, Reynalda (my grandmother), would go into labor in Santa Fe, she would come from Galisteo to deliver her babies. In my piece, La Partera I show two portraits hanging on the wall. The one on the left is the wedding picture of my grandparents. The other is the daguerreotype of Mieta and my great grandfather Serapio Anaya when they were young. I saw this painting hanging in my grandmother's bedroom my whole life. To the right stands Mieta holding her medicine bag ready to leave the new mother and father. I have a mortar and pestle on the night table to symbolize the herbs Mieta used to heal people. She has used the herbs to make a chamomile tea for the new mother to drink. The father has come from the fields to hold his new baby and give thanks for the safety of his wife. Of course, a cross presides over the family and the mother clasps her rosary.
Uploaded
December 21st, 2010
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Comments (32)
Jacek Dudzinski
Amazing work. I love it! If you have a sec, please let me know what you think about my images. I really want to progress with my knowledge
Liesl Marelli
Please consider joining our Circle of Life (honoring midwives and mothers) Art Contest - http://fineartamerica.com/contests/1-circle-of-life.html
Rose Hartnett
On behalf of all curanderas en Nuevo Mejico and elsewhere, thank you for your sensibilities and bringing focus to our trabajo sacrado, en el nombre del Creador. Nuestro camino sigue iluminado mas y mas cada aņo. Bendiciones, Doņa Rosa de Albq.
Debbie Portwood
I love this beautiful work, and you lovely story makes it so special! Congratulations on your sale! :D
Windy Mountain
This piece almost brought tears to my eyes Victoria. They are still sitting on the sill of my eyes. What a wonderful heritage to honor you have. And what a beautiful tribute to your families heritage. You inspire me to paint some of the memories in my own family. I will try. Love and Peace, in Christ, Windy Mountain
Victoria De Almeida replied:
Paint your memories Windy. Once we're gone our stories are gone! Thank you for your very kind words. Vaya con Dios!
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