Indulgence with an image of St Peter watching over two pilgrims

Art Historical Context

In the early 20th century, printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, in collaboration with publisher Antonio Van Arroyo, created vivid broadsides that captured the spirit of everyday Mexican life and faith. *Indulgence with an image St Peter watching over two*, dating to around 1900–1910, exemplifies their prolific output of affordable prints distributed via newspapers and chapbooks. Produced using type-metal engraving for the bold imagery and letterpress for text buff paper, this 16 × 12-inch sheet blends devotional art with popular graphics, making religious themes accessible to the masses. The artwork depicts St. Peter, the gatekeeper of heaven, benevolently overseeing two pilgrims—a poignant symbol of divine protection during journeys to sacred sites, common in Catholic Mexico. Indulgences like this promised spiritual remission of sins, reflecting the Church's role in a society blending indigenous and colonial traditions amid social upheaval before the Mexican Revolution. Posada's signature style, with its stark contrasts and folkloric energy, elevated these prints from mere ephemera to cultural icons. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece highlights how engraving techniques democratized art, preserving Posada's legacy as a voice of the people.

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...