History

When I look at Cándido López's paintings the first thing that catches my attention is the number of figures... Historical pictures (battles, soldiers) or countryside pictures with great numbers of livestock. Faced with these images I remembered a story or legend I had been told. They said that on the northern frontier, defended by Güemes's gauchos against a possible Spanish attack far superior in numbers, the captain gave the order to dress the cacti, which in that region grow very tall, in uniforms. The Spaniards watching from a distance believed in the superiority of the criollo forces and withdrew without attacking. But many legends have a kernel of truth that word of mouth later turns into legend.

That night I dreamed I was part of that army, I cooked for the soldiers, and when there was fighting to be done I went to the front like any other soldier. The army rewarded me with a medal that I thought I'd give to my grandchildren someday. The dream was so real that I woke up and went to look for the medal, when I came to my senses I started laughing at the nonsense, at that moment my mother appeared and, looking at me strangely, asked what I was laughing about, I answered, at your daughter, hero of the fatherland.