Store Watchman
ca. 1850
Meet the ultimate 19th-century night shift worker! This lively sketch by Peruvian artist Francisco Fierro, created around 1850, captures a 'Store Watchman' in all his formal glory. Dressed in a dashing top hat and a sweeping green cape, he stands guard before door number 68, clutching a ledger and resting his hand on a heavy lock. Despite the humble job of watching a shop, he sports a sword at his hip, proving that even in 1850s Lima, security guards took their fashion—and their authority—very seriously. Fierro was a master of 'Costumbrismo', an art movement focused on depicting local customs and everyday life with a mix of realism and gentle humor.