Broadsheet with songs relating to the earthquake that occurred on March 26, 1908

Art Historical Context

This striking broadsheet, produced in 1908 by the prolific Mexican publisher Antonio Vanegas Arroyo and master engraver José Guadalupe Posada, captures public's response to a devastating earthquake on March 26 of that year. Printed using type-metal engraving and letter on modest tan paper (measuring just 11 13/16 × 7 7/8 in.), it features vivid imagery of men, women, and musicians with instruments, accompanying popular songs or *corridos* that likely mourned the tragedy and shared communal grief. Posada, a pioneer of Mexico's graphic arts, was renowned for his bold, satirical prints that commented on current events, blending folk traditions with social commentary. Broadsheets like this were affordable ephemera, sold on streets to disseminate news, ballads, and illustrations to the working class—making art accessible in an era before mass media. The technique of type-metal engraving allowed for sharp, reproducible details, perfect for capturing dynamic scenes of human resilience amid disaster. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, 1946), this piece exemplifies early 20th-century Mexican popular culture, where art intertwined with music and storytelling to process calamity, offering visitors a tangible link to history's emotional pulse.