Pepo: The evolution from political satire to Condorito

René Ríos Boettiger, known by the pseudonym Pepo, was the creator of Condorito, a central figure in Chilean popular culture. His artistic development was rooted in political satire and social observation, notably through his collaboration with the legendary Chilean satirical magazine Topaze.

Working alongside figures like Jorge Délano (Coke), Pepo honed his ability to use humor to depict national political events and daily life. While his early work focused on political caricatures, the creation of Condorito in 1949 marked a shift toward representing the customs and struggles of the common Chilean citizen. The character was reportedly inspired by a desire to create a more representative national figure following the depiction of Chile in the 1942 Walt Disney film ‘Saludos Amigos’.