Posada, José Guadalupe. (1852–1913). "Huelga de Empleados de los Tranvías de México" - Metalcut Print Flyer Promoting a Workers' Strike.
Bright orange flyer from 1911 promoting a strike by the employees of Mexico's tramway companies, decorated with a metalcut design by the great engraver known as the "Printmaker to the Mexican People." One side reads "Nota Sensacional / Huelga de Motoristas," above an illustration of striking workers and a brief text describing the circumstances of the strike. To verso is a Spanish-language poem entitled "Huelga de Empleados de los Tranvías de México," and a copyright notice reading, translated from Spanish, "Printed by A. Vanegas Arroyo, Sta. Teresa 43, July 1911. Do not reproduce." Moderate ink smudging and small voided area to lower right corner, overall in fine condition. 16 x 20 inches (40.6 x 50.8 cm.).
The 1911 Mexican railway strike occurred during the Porfiriato era, a period of political and economic modernization in Mexico, where gathering social inequality led to labor unrest and eventually to the Mexican Revolution.
The artist, engraver, folk illustrator, and political cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada came out of poverty to become one of Mexico's most important artists, a creative mouthpiece of the common man and an influence on later artists such as muralists Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco.
"In 1887, he joined the Antonio Vanegas Arroyo Publishing House, doing illustrations for a wide variety of printed publications, many of which had editions in the thousands... Posada knew his intended audience well; most were poor, illiterate and enjoyed the sensational aspect of any story. Using well-known symbols, and with an uncanny journalistic sense, Posada was able to identify a hierarchy of interests for the common man: family, work, neighborhood, government, disasters, religion and the supernatural. His illustrations, which were always linked to a story, were graphic reports that read from left to right. Posada was a master of composition and chiaroscuro (dark/light) and his prints always convey a feeling of action and movement...His political drawings reveal a deep social consciousness; Posada was a moralist whose criticism was aimed at everyone, not just the obvious government officials. His personal and artistic integrity were well-known, even though he worked for much of his life in complete obscurity. He died in 1913 and was buried in a common grave." (Stanford University Library, Guide to the Jose Guadalupe Posada Prints.)
Posada, José Guadalupe. (1852–1913). "Huelga de Empleados de los Tranvías de México" - Metalcut Print Flyer Promoting a Workers' Strike.
Bright orange flyer from 1911 promoting a strike by the employees of Mexico's tramway companies, decorated with a metalcut design by the great engraver known as the "Printmaker to the Mexican People." One side reads "Nota Sensacional / Huelga de Motoristas," above an illustration of striking workers and a brief text describing the circumstances of the strike. To verso is a Spanish-language poem entitled "Huelga de Empleados de los Tranvías de México," and a copyright notice reading, translated from Spanish, "Printed by A. Vanegas Arroyo, Sta. Teresa 43, July 1911. Do not reproduce." Moderate ink smudging and small voided area to lower right corner, overall in fine condition. 16 x 20 inches (40.6 x 50.8 cm.).
The 1911 Mexican railway strike occurred during the Porfiriato era, a period of political and economic modernization in Mexico, where gathering social inequality led to labor unrest and eventually to the Mexican Revolution.
The artist, engraver, folk illustrator, and political cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada came out of poverty to become one of Mexico's most important artists, a creative mouthpiece of the common man and an influence on later artists such as muralists Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco.
"In 1887, he joined the Antonio Vanegas Arroyo Publishing House, doing illustrations for a wide variety of printed publications, many of which had editions in the thousands... Posada knew his intended audience well; most were poor, illiterate and enjoyed the sensational aspect of any story. Using well-known symbols, and with an uncanny journalistic sense, Posada was able to identify a hierarchy of interests for the common man: family, work, neighborhood, government, disasters, religion and the supernatural. His illustrations, which were always linked to a story, were graphic reports that read from left to right. Posada was a master of composition and chiaroscuro (dark/light) and his prints always convey a feeling of action and movement...His political drawings reveal a deep social consciousness; Posada was a moralist whose criticism was aimed at everyone, not just the obvious government officials. His personal and artistic integrity were well-known, even though he worked for much of his life in complete obscurity. He died in 1913 and was buried in a common grave." (Stanford University Library, Guide to the Jose Guadalupe Posada Prints.)