Presidential assumption of Carlos Pellegrini. Buenos Aires. 1890.

This vintage albumen print, in the measurement of: 17 x 23.5 cm / 6.7 x 9.25 in, stands as an early journalistic photograph of our country, as it documents the assumption of a President of the Nation in front of the aroused crowd that crowds in front of the Government House. The work is exhibited framed. It was reproduced in the book “City and field between two centuries. Buenos Aires, Cuyo and the Litoral in 1890 / 1910. (…)”, indicating “it is the oldest dated photo of Rimathé”. (1)

The scene hits; it shows us hundreds of supporters -some climbing on horse-drawn carriages- following the alternatives of the act; many of them leaning out of windows and balconies of the government building and others, dangerously perched on the high ceilings, and at the risk of their lives.

The shot was taken at approximately noon on August 7, 1890 -as the negative was labeled on its lower left edge- and in a clear day, the operator of the large camera strategically located at a certain distance and height to obtain a complete overview of this important political event. Multifaceted man, great statesman, politician, pioneer of industry, military man and journalist; founder of the Banco Nación, the Caja de Conversion and the Jockey Club, Carlos Pellegrini (1846 - 1906) assumed the presidency of the Nation due to the resignation of Dr. Miguel Juárez Celman -as a consequence of the Revolution of the Park-, in one of the most dramatic moments of the young republic.

In just two years of government -his term ended on October 12, 1892- this true "storm pilot" overcame one of the deepest crises, cleaned up finances, promoted industrialization and promoted agricultural development, ordered public accounts and it injected new confidence into the institutions of the state.

He died young, just 59 years old, leaving a consolidated country; When dismissing his remains in the Recoleta cemetery, President Figueroa Alcorta said with emotion: "Let's tighten the ranks, because the strongest has fallen”.

Samuel Paul Rimathé, a Swiss immigrant, arrived in Buenos Aires in 1888 and two years later he had already set up his business called "Picture Rimathé" on Libertad Street 151 in this city. Like all camera professionals in those years, he dealt with portraiture, but his greatest achievement was affirmed in his travels through the different regions of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, taking a significant number of photographic shots, including views, types and customs of this vast region, especially intended to provide images for postcard publishers. The truth is that he settled in his shop and an event shook the stillness of the city, he went there with his camera and documented it in the image that can be seen here.

By Abel Alexander

President

Ibero-American Society for the History of Photography

Note:

1. AAVV (Abel Alexander; Julio Djenderedjian; Luis Priamo): City and country between two centuries. Buenos Aires, Cuyo and the Litoral in 1890 / 1910. Photographs by Samuel Rimathé. Editions of the Torch, Buenos Aires, 2007, p. 14.