Tile mural

Gender and history

Gender roles

Donated by the Museo Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias González Martí, this tile mural is likely a reference to an episode from the First Carlist War (1833-1840), waged on Valencian soil. In it, we can see various battle scenes being fought between Carlists and Cristinos – in other words, the conservatives and the Liberals, in other words, the conservative supporters of the late king’s brother, Carlos de Borbón, and the progressive supporters of the regent, Maria Christina, acting for Isabella II of Spain. The images represented are scenes of violence: stabbings, soldiers being killed with bayonets, and bloody arrests. The people depicted are all men, soldiers demonstrating their valor and courage. No women are seen in combat, because women did not fight on the front line during the Carlist Wars. Instead, they stayed behind to help the soldiers, treating their wounds, carrying supplies, providing information on the enemy and helping to fortify towns.