Broadside with 48 scenes depicting the life of Mr Thin

Art Historical Context

This intriguing broadside print, created by Antonio Bosch after 1868, presents a lively visual narrative through 48 sequential scenes chronicling the life of the fictional “Mr. Thin.” Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, the work captures everyday experiences involving men and women, culminating in scenes of burial that reflect the universal stages of human existence. Its compact sheet size—roughly 17 by 12 inches—made it ideal for wide circulation as an affordable storytelling device. The medium, a lithographic reproduction of an etching, highlights t...