Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Posada, José Guadalupe, 1852-1913, Manilla, Manuel, Méndez, Leopoldo, 1902-1969, and Vanegas Arroyo, Antonio, 1852-1917
- Abstract:
- The collection contains a total of 506 items printed by Antonio Vanegas Arroyo's press. Among the items are half-sheet and full-sheet broadsides, chapbooks, and games. A majority of the prints were by José Guadalupe Posada, and possibly a few by Manuel Alfonso Manilla, his precursor and mentor. Themes in the collection include: Mexican popular culture, Calaveras, local disasters, supernatural acts, crimes, suicides, moral lessons, social critique, political caricatures, corridos, religious miracles, the Virgen de Guadalupe, and images of daily life and customs in Mexico.
- Extent:
- 7.79 Linear Feet 7 boxes and 1 oversize folder
- Language:
- Spanish; Castilian .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Box/folder no. or item name], José Guadalupe Posada prints, Collection no. 0517, Boeckmann Center for Iberian and Latin American Studies, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection contains a total of 506 items printed by Antonio Vanegas Arroyo's press. Among the items are half-sheet and full-sheet broadsides, chapbooks, and games. A majority of the prints were by José Guadalupe Posada, and possibly a few by Manuel Alfonso Manilla, his precursor and mentor. Themes in the collection include: Mexican popular culture, Calaveras, local disasters, supernatural acts, crimes, suicides, moral lessons, social critique, political caricatures, corridos, religious miracles, the Virgen de Guadalupe, and images of daily life and customs in Mexico. The collection also includes a signed linocut by Leopoldo Méndez titled Homenaje a José Guadalupe Posada.
- Biographical / historical:
-
José Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913), born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, spent his most creative period in Mexico City, from 1888, as a prolific engraver, printmaker, and publisher during the final years of the Porfirio DÃaz dictatorship and the beginning of the Mexican Revolution. In 1890, Posada began work for noted printer Antonio Vanegas Arroyo. Posada's works were widely distributed to both the illiterate and reading public, and, since the 1920s, made lasting impressions on Diego Rivera, Leopoldo Mendez, and many other prominent artists. Today Posada is best-known for his satirical and humorous illustrations of Mexican society. Among his most recognized works are his broadsides known as Calaveras, depicting lively images of skulls and skeletons, with accompanying text often in verse. Following Posada's death, the Calaveras became closely associated with Mexico's Dia de Muertos celebration (Day of the Dead). Posada's early work with printer Vanegas Arroyo was influenced by another graphic artist, Manuel Alfonso Manilla. The similarity between their work during Posada's early years in Mexico City led to the attribution to Posada of almost all of the Vanegas Arroyo broadsides, including those created by Manilla. In recent years researchers have begun to identify works by Manilla which were formerly attributed to Posada.
- Acquisition information:
- Purchased from Libros Latinos, February 25, 2000.
- Arrangement:
-
The collection is organized in seven boxes and one item in a map case: Box 1. Chapbooks; 2. and 3. Half sheet broadsides; 4. Las Calaveras: Full sheet broadsides; 5. Games and other Full sheet broadsides; 6. Religious themes: Full sheet and half sheet broadsides; 7. Ringed folders of photocopies of prints in the collection. Separately in map case: Homenaje a Jose Guadalupe Posada, signed linocut, by Leopoldo Mendez.
- Physical facet:
- 506 prints
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- All Souls' Day -- Mexico -- Archival resources
Art, Mexican -- Archival resources
Death in art -- Archival resources
Graphic artists -- Mexico -- Archival resources
Mexican wit and humor, Pictorial -- Archival resources
Political satire, Mexican -- Archival resources
Prints, Mexican -- Archival resources
Broadsides (notices)
Chapbooks
Printed ephemera
Prints - Names:
- Méndez, Leopoldo, 1902-1969 -- Pictorial works
Posada, José Guadalupe, 1852-1913 -- Pictorial works
Manilla, Manuel -- Pictorial works
Vanegas Arroyo, Antonio, 1852-1917 -- Pictorial works - Places:
- Mexico -- History -- Revolution, 1910-1920 -- Pictorial works
Mexico -- Religious life and customs -- Pictorial works
Mexico -- Social life and customs -- Pictorial works
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Advance notice required for access.
- Terms of access:
-
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Box/folder no. or item name], José Guadalupe Posada prints, Collection no. 0517, Boeckmann Center for Iberian and Latin American Studies, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
- Location of this collection:
-
Special CollectionsDoheny Memorial Library, Room 209Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189, US
- Contact:
- (213) 740-5900