Progress and culture: iconology of paper money of Costa Rica’s liberal period

Abstract

Iconographic and iconological analysis of an early XX century costa rican piece of paper money. Research conducted using primary and secondary sources, following the iconographic method and by respecting the gradual implementation. Achieving the iconographic origin of the greek god Hermes, his artistic and symbolic link with the costa rican elite of the time, the theme of the engraving and the engraver’s artistic style. On the other hand, close relations between costa rican liberal political thought and the French social philosophy known as positivism are plotted; taking and headline thinker Auguste Comte, more influential among Latin American elites in the second half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century theorist. Positive thinking is identified as the source of the Costa Rica liberal project, which sought to moralize and civilize the population through cultural transformation, aspiring to be approved with the culture, they argued more developed: the European. On the high social notions of Order and Progress, the liberal project drew various means to implement its program of international social ascent, and between these pathways used paper money as visual and conceptual support, wherein the printed costa rican elite culture of their time, their dreams, ideologies and paradigms. Thus, the process of costa rican cultural imposition led by leaders who despised national culture and kept their goals in Europe. Thus the study of this historical moment is as vital to understand the first official project for the construction of a costa rican national identity.