View source for Zé Povinho

{{Short description|Portuguese everyman character}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
[[File:Zepovinho.jpg|thumb|Zé Povinho in [[Caldas da Rainha]] [[porcelain]].]]
'''Zé Povinho''' is the cartoon character of a Portuguese [[everyman]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.compulsivecontents.com/detail-event/ze-povinho-portugaland39s-everyman/ | title=Zé Povinho – Portugal's Everyman }}</ref> created by [[Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro]]. After an extended break (due to the creator travelling to [[Rio de Janeiro]], Zé Povinho returned to the printed page in the O ''António Maria'' newspaper, and appeared in 2 more newspapers before the last drawing by the original creator in November 1904.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://museubordalopinheiro.pt/o-ze-povinho-sempre-o-mesmo/ | title=O Zé Povinho, sempre o mesmo }}</ref> Zé Povinho became first a symbol of the Portuguese working-class people, and eventually into the unofficial [[national personification|personification]] of [[Portugal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://ensina.rtp.pt/artigo/o-ze-povinho-de-rafael-bordalo-pinheiro/|title = O "Zé Povinho" de Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro|date = 2011|access-date = 3 August 2015|website = Ensina RTP}}</ref> The character is often used to criticize politics and political figures.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ensina.rtp.pt/artigo/o-ze-povinho-de-rafael-bordalo-pinheiro/ | title=O "Zé Povinho" de Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro }}</ref>

== History ==
It made its first appearance in the 5th edition of the ''A Lanterna Mágica'' newspaper, in 12 June 1875, in a [[caricature]] called titled "Portugueze Calendar", alluding to taxes, where the Minister of Finance, [[António de Serpa Pimentel|Serpa Pimentel]], appears withdrawing a three-cent [[alms]] from Zé Povinho for [[Anthony of Padua]] (represented by [[Fontes Pereira de Melo]]) with the "kid" ([[Luís I of Portugal|D. Luís I]]) in his lap, having by his side the commander of the [[National Republican Guard (Portugal)|National Republican Guard]], with a whip in his hand, there to prevent an eventual resistance.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

In the next editions of the newspaper, the Zé Povinho caricature continued to appear with the character with his mouth open and not intervening, resigned when faced with the corruption and injustice, kneeled by the tax load and unaware of the big issues of the country.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

He took a tridimensional form, becoming popular in the [[ceramic]] form made by the Faianças Factory in Caldas da Rainha, starting in the last quarter of the 19th Century.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

A prominent figure of the Bordalo Pinheiro caricature,<ref>In the 10 thousand pages of caricatures and scenes, made between 1870 and the beginning of 1905, Zé Povinho is portrayed in around 300 different drawings, in different poses.  D'ANUNCIAÇÃO, Pedro. "Um Zé Povinho Apalermado e Subserviente". in: 100 Anos de Bordalices. Suplemento da ''Gazeta das Caldas'', 24 March 2006. p. 18.</ref> it became an identifying figure of the Portuguese people, critiquing in a humoristic way the main social, political and economical problems of the country during its history, caricaturing the Portuguese people in their characteristic eternal revolt before the abandonment and forgetfulness of the political class, even though they do little to nothing to change the situation.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

The character was cited by E. F. Piloni in messages to J.M.D. Marçal Jr., when comparing him to a dramatic hotshot that, now it's worth something, then it loses its value. Affectionately coined by the author of the joke, leaving a certain look of confusion when saying that it he was a common, simple man; Zé. A popular expression that means simple people, an individual from the people. It's used to identify a socially disqualified person. Zé, is a popular way to express the people's man.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

== Characteristics ==
Bordalo Pinheiro himself defined the character: "''Zé Povinho looks to a side then to another and... he stays like always... the same''".{{fact|date=August 2024}}

Although, despite being relatively simple, he's a figure full of contradiction:<blockquote>"''But if he is patient, gullible, submissive, humble, tame, apathetic, indifferent, abulic, skeptic, suspicious, disbeliever and lonely, he doesn't stop showing up, in a constant contradiction with himself, simultaneously capable of appearing in disbelief, revolted, grumpy, insolent, furious, sensitive, compassionate, skittish, active, supportive, outgoing...''".<ref>Medina, João. "O Zé Povinho, caricatura do «Homo Lusitanus»" in ''Estudos em Homenagem a Jorge Borges de Macedo''. Lisboa: INIC, 1992.</ref></blockquote>The character has as its main characteristic the middle finger gesture, representing his revolt and insolence facet.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Lanterna Mágica - Zé Povinho.jpg|First apparition of ''Zé Povinho'' in ''A Lanterna Mágica'' magazine, 12 June 1875
File:Ze povinho lanterna magica 1875.jpg|''Zé Povinho'' in ''A Lanterna Mágica'', 1875
File:O Zé Povinho - Depois das eleições, à vontade do seu dono, O Antonio Maria, 1880.jpg|''Zé Povinho'' in the ''O António Maria'' magazine, 1880
File:Zé Povinho, Álbum das Glórias (cropped).png|Colour drawing of ''Zé Povinho'', 1882
File:Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro at Aeroporto metro station (8176850811).jpg|''Zé Povinho'' and his creator caricatured in the Airport Station of the [[Lisbon Metro]], 2012
 
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}
*''Estudos em Homenagem a Jorge Borges de Macedo'', Lisbon, INIC, 1992

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}

{{National personifications}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ze Povinho}}
[[Category:National personifications]]
[[Category:National personifications in comic books]]
[[Category:Portuguese folklore|Povinho, Ze]]
[[Category:Portuguese comics|Povinho, Ze]]
[[Category:National symbols of Portugal]]
[[Category:Portugal in fiction]]
[[Category:Comics set in Portugal]]
[[Category:Fictional Portuguese people|Povinho, Ze]]
[[Category:Male characters in comics|Povinho, Ze]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1875|Povinho, Ze]]
[[Category:1875 establishments in Portugal]]
[[Category:Comics before 1900]]
[[Category:Public domain comics]]

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