Felipe Huaman Poma de Ayala Paintings

Felipe Huaman Poma de Ayala, also known as Guamán Poma, was an indigenous Peruvian writer and illustrator who is best known for his critical chronicle of the Andean culture, the Spanish conquest, and colonialism in Peru. Born around 1535, possibly in San Cristóbal de Sondondo in the Lucanas province of present-day Peru, Huaman Poma was a noble of Inca descent. He claimed to be a direct descendant of the first ruler of the Inca empire, Manco Cápac. Throughout his life, Huaman Poma straddled two worlds - that of his Andean ancestors and the colonial Spanish regime.

Huaman Poma's most significant contribution to history and literature is his work 'El Primer Nueva Corónica y Buen Gobierno' (The First New Chronicle and Good Government), completed around 1615. This extensive document, intended for King Philip III of Spain, comprises over 1,200 pages and nearly 400 drawings that depict the life of Andean peoples, the abuses of colonial officials, and his recommendations for a better governance of the Spanish colonies. His illustrations provide a unique and invaluable visual record of 16th-century Andean life, culture, and the impact of Spanish conquest and colonial rule.

Despite his noble lineage and efforts to advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples, Huaman Poma faced marginalization and his work was largely ignored by the Spanish authorities of his time. 'El Primer Nueva Corónica y Buen Gobierno' was lost to history until its rediscovery in the Danish Royal Library in Copenhagen in 1908. Since then, Huaman Poma's chronicle has been recognized as a masterpiece of indigenous literature and an essential source for understanding the impact of colonization on the Andean world.

Huaman Poma's legacy is that of a bridge between cultures, providing a voice to the voiceless indigenous populations of Peru. His detailed account of Andean customs, traditions, and the grievous effects of Spanish colonialism offers an unprecedented insight into the early colonial period in South America. Despite the challenges and obscurity he faced during his lifetime, Felipe Huaman Poma de Ayala is now celebrated as a pivotal figure in the history of Peruvian literature and an early advocate for human rights.