Broadsheet relating to the Virgin of Guadalupe who is shown flanked by angels
José Guadalupe Posada, 1901
About this artwork
In the heart of Mexico's vibrant print culture at the turn of the 20th century, José Guadalupe Posada this striking 1901 broadsheet, a type-metal engraving and letterpress on tan paper. The image centers the revered Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patroness, flanked by adoring angels, embodying profound devotion. Posada, a master of popular illustration, was renowned for his bold, satirical broadsheets—inexpensive, widely circulated sheets blending text and imagery to reach everyday folk. This devotional print captures the cultural fervor surrounding the Virgin of Guadalupe, whose 1531 apparition to Indigenous peasant Juan Diego symbolizes mestizo identity and miraculous faith. Posada's incisive line work and folk-inspired style, hallmarks of his oeuvre, infuse the scene with dynamic energy, making celestial figures accessible and immediate. Produced via relief printing techniques, the medium allowed for affordable mass dissemination, turning sacred icons into household staples amid Porfirio Díaz's modernizing yet unequal era. Measuring just 7⅞ × 11⅞ inches, this modest sheet from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection highlights Posada's enduring influence on Mexican graphic arts, bridging religious piety with social commentary. A testament to art's power in everyday spirituality.