National identity in the banknotes of the Chilean bicentennial

Abstract

The article analyzes the iconography of the five Chilean banknotes issued between 2009 and 2011, seeking what national identity they communicate. The new portraits are compared with those of the previous banknotes and the elimination of some elements is observed. Then the human absence in the landscapes is commented and it is concluded that the banknotes do not seek to impose a national identity on their bearers, but are rather offered as freely interpretable images, at the cost of not proposing a community narrative that is projected into the future. Finally, similarities are observed between the conclusions of this study and those of others applied to the Argentine peso and the euro.