Bolivia’s Indigenous Quechua and Aymara women, known derogatorily as “cholitas,” were marginalized and ostracized from society. Distinguished by their long braids, wide skirts, and bowler hats—an amalgamation of styles resulting from Spanish colonizers forcing Indigenous people to adopt European styles during the Inquisition—the style evolved into a symbol-rich, empowered look.
Medieval monks had themselves one hell of a time imagining the demons awaiting sinners in Hell. The illustrations are from Livre de la Vigne nostre Seigneur (Bodleian MS. Douce 134), a treatise on the Antichrist, the last judgement, and Heaven and Hell.
