The Printmaker Who Became a Hero of Mexican Cultural Identity

"Frida Kahlo, during her 1933 trip to New York, created a colorful haven in her hotel room by covering the walls with prints by José Guadalupe Posada, which depicted sensational news and political imagery."

"José Guadalupe Posada, a prolific printmaker, became a hero of revolutionary Mexican aesthetics after his death, with his calaveras symbolizing a distinct form of 'Mexicanness' that embraces indigenous traditions."

"Posada's work is closely associated with Día de los Muertos, a festival that connects the living with the deceased, reflecting a cultural identity that renounces colonial influences."

In 1933, Frida Kahlo, feeling homesick in New York, transformed her hotel room with vibrant prints by José Guadalupe Posada. These prints featured sensational news, gossip, and political imagery. Posada, a significant printmaker, became a symbol of revolutionary Mexican aesthetics posthumously. His calaveras represent mexicanidad, embracing indigenous traditions and rejecting colonial influences. Born in Aguascalientes, Posada trained as a lithographer and worked in a commercial printing environment, creating popular prints that often critiqued society through cartoons for political publications.

Read at Artnet News