I’ve been trying to get more South American figures in the mix, and the story of Policarpa Salavarrieta (known as La Pola) fascinated me since a kind follower sent her over a suggestion. This is a posthumous portrait (I couldn’t find any contemporary images), but it captures a lifelike spirit. La Pola is renowned in Colombia for being a revolutionary heroine during the early 1800s. She was born into a politically-active family, with her family fighting against the colonization attempts of Spain. As a young woman, she joined the patriotic groups in the Colombian capital, and began using her skills to infiltrate the colonizing camp. Trained as a seamstress, she was sent to be the official seamstress to Spanish Royals, listening and gaining valuable information about troop movements and other plans. She was exposed and captured when a comrade carrying information that exposed her spying was intercepted by the Spanish. She was sentenced to death by firing squad. Right before her execution, she yelled the iconic words, “Although I am a woman and young, I have more than enough courage to suffer this death and a thousand more!” Her death inspired thousands, and her efforts contributed greatly to a Colombia that is no longer colonized.
Left Portrait base: Public Domain. Right Portrait base: iStock Photo. Created using Photoshop.
