La madre del emigrante, Bronze sculpture at Rinconín Beach, Gijón, Spain
La madre del emigrante is a bronze sculpture on Gijón's coast that depicts a woman with windswept hair and form-fitting dress extending her hand toward the ocean. The work stands along a seaside walkway near the Somió neighborhood, facing the waters of the Cantabrian Sea.
The monument was created in 1970 to commemorate the waves of emigration from Asturias between 1905 and 1920, when thousands departed for the Americas. It has undergone multiple restorations since its installation, reflecting its enduring importance to regional memory and identity.
The bronze figure embodies the grief and longing of mothers left behind when their families sought better lives overseas. Visitors standing before it can feel the emotional weight of this historical separation that shaped entire families and communities.
The sculpture is located along a public waterside path that is easy to reach on foot with clear views from multiple angles. The coastal area is relatively flat and well-maintained, making it convenient for visitors to walk around and view the work from different perspectives.
The work bears inscribed verses by a prominent Gijón poet that echo the mother's unspoken words, adding a literary dimension to the memorial. This textual layer transforms a simple viewing experience into an encounter that engages both sight and emotion through language.
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