José Guadalupe Posada|Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, ca. 1895–1900
This striking broadsheet from around 1895–1900, created by the renowned Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada collaboration with publisher Antonio Van Arroyo, captures the macabre wit of Mexico's popular print tradition. On the recto, skeletons pedal furiously on bicycles at a racetrack, mocking journalists with the caption: "From this famous hippodrome Death is inexorable and doesn't respect those that you see on bicycles." The verso bony figures buying and selling printed images, sly nod to the print trade itself. Measuring 23⅝ × 15¾ inches, it's a masterful example of affordable, mass-produced ephemera meant for everyday audiences. Posada, a pioneer of Mexico's graphic arts, is celebrated for his *calaveras*—skeletal figures drawn from Day of the Dead imagery and folk satire. Here, bicycles symbolize the modern frenzy of Porfirian Mexico's urban elite and press, while skeletons remind all of death's democracy, transcending class. This work exemplifies Posada's influence on 20th-century Mexican art, inspiring muralists like Diego Rivera. Printed via etching on zinc, woodcut, letterpress, and relief techniques, the broadsheet's bold lines and vivid contrasts ensured legibility and impact in markets or streets. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, it highlights how Posada blended artistry with social commentary, making profound ideas accessible and enduringly humorous.
