Broadsheet relating to the escape of Jesús Bruno Martínez from Belen prison, a description in the bottom section
Medium
Type-metal engraving and letterpress on tan paper
Dimensions
Sheet: 15 3/4 × 11 13/16 in. (40 × 30 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1946
Accession Number
46.46.266
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking broadsheet from around 1892 captures a daring prison break by Jesús Bruno Martínez from Mexico City's infamous Belén prison, illustrated by the legendary printmaker José Guadalupe Posada published by Antonio Vanegas Arroyo Printed on tan paper using type-metal engraving for the vivid imagery and letterpress for the, it measures about 16 by 12 inches, making it an affordable, large-format news sheet for the masses. The bottom section provides a detailed description of the event, while tags highlight buildings, railways, and men—hinting at Martínez's dramatic railway-assisted escap...
About the Artist
José Guadalupe Posada|Antonio Vanegas Arroyo · 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...