Photograph by
Espada, Frank, Puerto Rican, 1930 - 2014
Subject of
de Jesús, Marta, American
Date
1982
Medium
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions
H x W: 11 × 14 in. (27.9 × 35.6 cm)
Description
A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Marta de Jesus, a practitioner of Lucumí faith and founder of the temple El Centro San Lázaro in Hartford, Connecticut. She is seated in front of shelves of religious figurines and spiritual bath bottles. Marta wears an all-white dress and a white head covering. At the center of her lap, Marta’s hands meet. She has a thin chain bracelet on her proper right wrist. On her proper left wrist is a thicker band and she wears a ring on her index finger.
Marta wears several beaded necklaces, also known as elekés and collares. Ritually, these elekés are color and number coded for a certain orisha, or deity. On Marta, there is one prominent necklace laying atop of all others; it is held on a thin necklace with a rectangular pendant with an indistinguishable figure on it. On her proper upper left chest, Marta wears a brooch.
There are no inscriptions on the front of the print. An inscription on the back of the print notes the photographer, date, location, and subject. Other inscriptions include the photographer’s signature and alpha-numerical inscriptions from the photographer.
Place depicted
Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, North and Central America
Cultural Place
Puerto Rico, United States, Caribbean, Latin America, North and Central America
West Africa, Africa
Portfolio/Series
The Puerto Rican Diaspora Documentary Project
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
gelatin silver prints
portraits
Topic
African diaspora
Communities
Photography
Prayer
Religion
Spirituality
Urban life
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture purchased with funds provided by the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center
Object number
2021.53.18
Restrictions & Rights
© Estate of Frank Espada
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5b101e41b-803a-49ba-82df-bb875d2d4dc9

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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