Abstract

Prospero Calderón (1862-1934) will be the first Costa Rican to devote himself to the profession of editor; Likewise he will be photographer, teacher, designer and precursor of the graphic arts in the country. Under its ideals for the promotion of culture, the first Costa Rican publications are published in a magazine format: Costa Rica Ilustrada and Páginas Ilustradas, featuring on its pages photographs of H.N. Rudd, Manuel Gómez Miralles and Amando Céspedes, among others, as well as texts by Joaquín García Monje, Justo A. Facio, Carmen Lyra and Lisímaco Chavarría. His contribution is essential in the study of Costa Rican society and art in the transition of the s. XIX to s. XX.

In order to carry out this research, was used the Historical Methodology, developed from the heuristic and hermeneutic stages, to conclude with a theoretical proposal under the figure of Historical Biography.

Key words: Próspero Calderón; photograph; Graphic art; editor; Costa Rica Ilustrada; Páginas Ilustradas; Costarican magazines; art nouveau