Imagery and Space in Andean Capital Cities: Visual Discourse in Bogotá, Quito, and Lima, 1910-1930

This paper examines the representation of urban landscapes in Bogotá, Quito, and Lima between 1910 and 1930 through visual media, particularly advertisements and caricatures. It explores how these images reflected and shaped perceptions of modernity, nationalism, and urban development. The study analyzes the tension between idealized depictions of progress in advertisements and critical representations in cartoons, highlighting the role of visual culture in reinforcing and contesting dominant narratives. The research focuses on the use of national symbols, monuments, and new technologies like automobiles in constructing an image of modern, patriotic cities. It also discusses how these representations addressed the complex relationship between local identities and global influences. The paper concludes that urban imagery during this period served as a battleground for ideological and cultural expression, reflecting the aspirations, contradictions, and challenges of rapidly changing Andean cities.