The newspaper seller, a photo from Caceres, Extremadura

Photographer's Note

I continue my trip through Spain with a visit to Cáceres.

Cáceres is the capital of Cáceres province, in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. In 2014 its population was around 96,000. The municipio has a land area of 1,750.33 square kilometres (675.81 square miles), the largest geographically in Spain. The walled city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Walking up to the Old Town, I came across this bronze sculpture of a newspaper seller.

After doing some research on the internet I found out it commemorates the life of Leoncia Gómez Galán.

Leoncia Gómez Galán was the last street seller of the Extremadura Newspaper. She was born in 1903 in Valencia de Alcántara and, apparently, was abandoned on the doors of a church.

Eventually, she made her way to Cáceres where she found employment as a maid with a well known lawyer, whose house was on Plaza San Juan close to where this statue is sited. After fifty years service, Germán Sellers de Paz, director of the Extremadura newspaper at that time, suggested to the lawyer for whom he worked that Leoncia sold copies of the newspaper through the streets of Cáceres.

Leoncia accepted and began a new life as a 'town crier' and newspaper seller. For almost a decade, she shouted about the newspaper to the four winds, telling its news and showing its photos as well selling lottery tickets. Finally retired and having moved to a retirement home, she met the 'love of her life' at the age of 74. They got married and travelled to Benidorm on their honeymoon.

She died in 1986. In 1998 at the request of the Extremadura Newspaper and coinciding with the 75th anniversary of its founding, the artist José Antonio Calderón was commissioned to produce a bronze sculpture as a tribute and commemoration.

pajaran, papagolf21, Royaldevon, Fis2, swapankumarroy, ChrisJ, pierrefonds, jhm, PiotrF, Cricri, Periko, alvaraalto, ikeharel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

emka (158156) 2017-06-14 0:05

Hello Stephen, The statues like this one can see now in many places. I like them very much.Here it is nice, so natural, if this newspaper seller was just there. Interesting note about Leoncia.

Kind regrad s MAlgo

papagolf21 (152607) 2017-06-14 0:11

Bonjour, cher Stephen,
Ma surprise est toujours présente en découvrant ces statues superbement sculptées et non endommagées par la population.
La mise en image est parfaite. Cette sculpture a toute sa place dans la ville.
Amitiés.
Philippe

dkmurphys (79209) 2017-06-14 0:12

Good morning,
Nice scene from the small square. I like the atmosphere and the interesting statue. Good composition.

Daniel

Royaldevon (85932) 2017-06-14 0:27

Hello Stephen,

I have posted a statue today but the subjects of the artwork couldn't be more extreme!

I like this very much and I like the fact that people are remembered for the impact on the local community, not necessarily the country!
Your statue is well positioned, grabbing f/g attention and ensuring that you get the newspaper before being seated for some refreshment!!!

Have a lovely day,
Bev :-)

Tue (92360) 2017-06-14 0:31

Hello Stephen,
I love the mood of the picture with all the people on this little square eating, drinking and chatting in the shade of the umbrellas. The statue is well included in the foreground and the vertical composition is well-chosen.
Lars

Fis2 (170747) 2017-06-14 0:52

Witaj Stephen!
Curious alley, statue add flavor to this place.
Good POV and composition.
Nice delicate colours.
Well done.
Nice day.
Krzysztof

swapankumarroy (3769) 2017-06-14 1:05

Hello Stephen,

Very natural posture of the statue of newspaper seller standing in a square and you have well placed in your frame, excellent composition, color and light, I like your unique presentation.

my warm regards,

swapankumarroy

lousat (139266) 2017-06-14 1:35

Hi Steph,how is lovely this statue! A memory of a work of the past but can i see today too in the metro stations of Milano. Perfect capture with a very rich background full of life and colors,i like it! Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

ChrisJ (171822) 2017-06-14 3:04

Hello Stephen

Seeing this evokes memories of much earlier times when newspapers were widely sold on the streets rather than through internet, and there were many more media outlets to choose from, than the handful of conglomerates left today. A good anachronism, amongst the al fresco diners. Tfs!

claudeD (47754) 2017-06-14 4:45

Hello Stephen,

very fine picture from Caceres showing this interesting statue representing a newspaper seller. Very good light managment and sharpness.Very well done.TFS.

With regards from Luxembourg

JC

pierrefonds (114448) 2017-06-14 5:22

Hi Stephen,

The terrasse is framing well the sculpture. The point of view is showing the details of the sculpture. The light has a good effect on the colours. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jhm (211736) 2017-06-14 5:29

Hello Stephen,

The bronze statue in foreground is the real eye catcher.
The terraces and buildings are a nice addition.
An excellent composition, nice presentation too.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

Nicou (193806) 2017-06-14 5:50

Hello

quel vendeur de journaux en statue sueprbe sur la place avec ces terrasses en fond fantastique vue et ensemble quelle luminosité en fond et image
Bravo t amitié
Nciou

Silvio1953 (221593) 2017-06-14 7:52

Ciao Stephen, lovely composition with original statue, fine details, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

sacimar (38173) 2017-06-14 7:57

Hello Stephen,

good image of this square in Cáceres, I like the composition with the people sitting in the restaurant and the statue, well seen,

Best regards,

Sergio

pajaran (115891) 2017-06-14 8:11

Dobar dan.
Lep pogled i trenutak, interesantan i dobar tyekst ...
Dobar rad i kompozicija, lepo pokazana skulptura i mesto, dobar kontrast i perspektivca, lepe boje, lepo uhvacen trenutak sa posetiocima restorana. Lepa skulptura i fasade, lepi suncobrani.
Lepo popodne i sve najbolje.
Paja.

Good day.
Beautiful view of the moment, interesting and good tyekst ...
Good work and compositions, beautifully demonstrated sculptures and city, good contrast and perspektivca, beautiful colors, beautiful moment captured with the visitors of the restaurant. Beautiful sculptures and facades, beautiful umbrellas.
Nice afternoon and all the best.

PiotrF (54666) 2017-06-14 16:00

Hello Stephen,
Interesting view of this part of town with an interesting sculpture in the foreground.Good framing, sharpness and quality, fine presentation.
Regards
Piotr

Cricri (176) 2017-06-15 8:37

Hello Stephen
Charmante statue, bien placé près des terrasses, la lumière est très belle, belle composition et présentation
belle journée
cricri

Periko (9107) 2017-06-15 15:43

Hi Stephen
Every town or city has its character who is remembered by the people throughout the years. I have seen statues like this one in several places, with interesting stories.

Tfs
Pedro

alvaraalto (42804) 2017-06-16 4:32

Hello Stephen
Good research for your note with this attractive picture. I like this kind of statues in the city. I prefer them above living statues. (No hat for your money), but primarily for tells you something about the town
Well done, Have a nice day. Groet Rob

ikeharel (113345) 2017-06-18 7:40

Excellent choice of POV, Stephen, by the short-shadows cast I reckon it was at high noon daylight.
The prevailing beige color from the houses around and the parasols gave a wonderful bright and yet a mild tone to the photo.
Nicely rendered, good afternoon,
Ike

kim_gwan (1142) 2017-06-20 10:14

Hi Stephen,

Very nice posture of the sculpture cum waitress!!
The spot where you stood really blend in well with the overall picturesque

Saturation of color is perfect although with strong sunlight

Nice POV and composition

Regards,
Ralf

mcmtanyel (68503) 2017-07-07 21:35

Hello Stephen,
For an instant I thought this was one of those live statues, but I am glad to see it is the real thing and no one is standing in the heat of the day under the sun. It's a charming daily life photo from Caceres.
Regards,
MT
PS. Fireworks used to be illegal in PA, too, but we live 10 minutes from the Ohio border where they are legal. People used to go to OH and buy fireworks there and set them off in PA illegally. Finally, the authorities gave up and they are legal here, too.