The Peasant Christ (El Cristo Campesino) 1962

This photograph is known as "The Peasant Christ" or "The Tragedy of Colombia." It dates back to 1962 and is set against the backdrop of a period in Colombian history known as "La Violencia"—a partisan armed conflict that began around 1948 and lasted through the 1960s, leaving deep scars across the country, especially in rural areas.

The image starkly captures the pain and suffering endured by peasants during a time marked by brutal clashes and massacres. It stands as a powerful visual testimony to both the hardship and resilience of the Colombian people in the face of violence and chaos.

The identity of the man depicted remains unknown—the subject was never publicly named. And in that anonymity lies part of the photo’s symbolic weight: it doesn’t portray just one individual, but rather speaks to the collective suffering of countless rural Colombians during La Violencia.