A Visual History of a Sacrifice: Cristero Photography and the José de León Toral Commemorative Album

Abstract

This paper sets out to examine the interpretative differenda arising over photographs promoted by the Mexican government and those distributed by the rebels after the conflict known as the Guerra cristera [Cristero War] (1926–1929). While Federal photography was characterised by its dissemination of punitive acts, the Cristeros (as the anti-government Catholic rebels were known) lent their photographs an emotive aura out of a desire to imbue them with a devotional meaning. This analysis focuses accordingly on a photograph album dedicated to José de León Toral, who assassinated General Álvaro Obregón in July 1928. The album reframes the figure of José de León Toral to establish images of a model life by emphasising the supposed sacrifice implied in the Potosino assassin’s execution by firing squad. Through its emphasis on emotivity, the album sets up an interpretation of José de León Toral as a kind of sacred figure.