Constantinos Emmanuelle
Peasant Girl #3
2021
This is the third in a series of twelve portraits that I hope to complete by 2023. The series which I have titled ‘Peasant Girls’ will pay tribute to the young women of Cyprus who were born in the 1920s and 30s. As young girls, their fate was pre-determined in what was once a deep-rooted patriarchal society. Education was not an option for many young girls in Cyprus during this era. Instead, they were expected to live a life of servitude. While most remained trapped in their village, helping their parents with endless chores and duties on the farm as well as look after their younger siblings. Some were sent away to learn crafts such as embroidery, basket weaving and pottery. Nearly all young Cypriot girls were forced into arranged marriages were their life of servitude would continue. I have interviewed over a hundred women from this generation (now aged in their 80s and 90s) for my Tales of Cyprus project. These women are amongst the bravest and strongest I have ever met. They have all single-handedly propped up their families and communities for decades without receiving (or expecting) any real recognition or gratitude. I hope my portraits will help raise awareness about this incredible generation of Cypriot women and provide the recognition they richly deserve.
2021
This is the third in a series of twelve portraits that I hope to complete by 2023. The series which I have titled ‘Peasant Girls’ will pay tribute to the young women of Cyprus who were born in the 1920s and 30s. As young girls, their fate was pre-determined in what was once a deep-rooted patriarchal society. Education was not an option for many young girls in Cyprus during this era. Instead, they were expected to live a life of servitude. While most remained trapped in their village, helping their parents with endless chores and duties on the farm as well as look after their younger siblings. Some were sent away to learn crafts such as embroidery, basket weaving and pottery. Nearly all young Cypriot girls were forced into arranged marriages were their life of servitude would continue. I have interviewed over a hundred women from this generation (now aged in their 80s and 90s) for my Tales of Cyprus project. These women are amongst the bravest and strongest I have ever met. They have all single-handedly propped up their families and communities for decades without receiving (or expecting) any real recognition or gratitude. I hope my portraits will help raise awareness about this incredible generation of Cypriot women and provide the recognition they richly deserve.
To see more of my work, please visit www.talesofcyprus.com