A man in a hat kidnapping a child from a broadside entitled 'Los roba-chicos en acción'

Art Historical Context

This zincograph by José Guadalupe Posada captures a dramatic scene from the broadside “Los roba-chicos en acción” (“The Child Snatchers in Action showing a man in a wide-brimmed hat seizing a child amid donkeys and wagons. Created between 1880 and 1910, the print exemplifies Posada’s skill in producing affordable, widely circulated images that brought sensational stories to Mexican audiences during a period of rapid social change. Posada, a leading figure in Mexican popular graphics, used zincography to achieve bold, crisp lines that reproduced well on inexpensive paper. Such broadsides often addressed public fears, folklore, or current events, turning everyday anxieties into vivid visual narratives. The kidnapping theme likely drew on contemporary legends and newspaper reports, reflecting widespread concerns about child safety in urbanizing Mexico. Today, this small yet powerful sheet in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection preserves a slice of Posada’s world, where art served both as entertainment and social commentary for ordinary viewers.

About the Artist

José Guadalupe Posada|José Sanchez · 1852–1913

José Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913) was a Mexican printmaker and engraver who revolutionized popular art and created some of the most iconic images in Mexican culture. Working primarily with publisher Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, he produced over 20,000 images during his career—inexpensive broadsheets sold for a penny on colored paper that made his art accessible to even the poorest workers. He transform...