General Store. Argentina. Circa 1930.

Vintage photograph. Gelatin silver print. Soft sepia tone. Dimensions: 13 x 18 cm. Circa 1930. Finely framed photograph mounted on period card and then a white passe-partout. Dark brown flat wooden frame. Photographic work in excellent condition.

General stores were the natural successors of the old frontier taverns and, like them, accompanied the development and progress of our rural people from the late 19th century onward. These historic businesses were stocked with an infinite variety of items necessary for life in those remote rural communities, as well as in urban areas, thanks to the emergence of new towns along the railway lines. They sold tools, farming supplies, weapons, seeds, fencing, clothing, food, and, from the beginning, served as a natural center of social life where gambling, drinking, and all relevant news were exchanged.

The image we are discussing today is an excellent photograph taken by a professional photographer. Faced with the difficulty of photographing the dimly lit interior of the shop, he opted for the bright midday hours, opening doors and windows, whose rays of light are visible in the scene.

We are looking at a complete shop in a town of some urban importance. The expansive sales floor or office is striking, with its columns, light fixtures, endless shelves, and even an overhead aisle for slow-moving merchandise. The owner and his employees are behind the wooden counter, as was customary; some customers take the opportunity to have their picture taken. The large "Mobiloils" sign points to the silent commercial rivalry between American and English products at that time. Definitely a perfect window into the past of our rural shops.

In recent years, interest in the history of these types of businesses has grown; in this regard, researcher and collector Francisco León Racedo, along with a group of specialists, founded the "José Hernández" Center for Studies on General Stores and Pulperías (traditional general stores), advising those interested in this subject.

Abel Alexander

President of the Ibero-American Society for the History of Photography