Document 26.1: José Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar, and Mariano Ponce, 1890

This photograph of José Rizal was taken around 1890. By this time, Rizal had already been living and studying in Europe for eight years, including stays in Germany, France, and Belgium, and had earned a medical degree and doctorate. He had also become come the leader of a Filipino reform movement, organizing his fellow Filipino students and publishing calls for Philippine rights in Spanish newspapers. As you look at the photograph, consider how Rizal sought to present himself. What does this photo tell you about the self-image of this young Filipino reformer?

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(Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-43453)

Questions to Consider

  1. How would you describe Rizal in this photograph? What adjectives best capture his look and demeanor?
  2. How would you explain the formality of the photograph? How might the Rizal have wanted to be seen by other Filipinos? By the Spanish?