Guide to the Engravings and Posters, 1848-1964
Processed by Sheryl Nonnenberg; machine-readable finding aid created by Steven Mandeville-Gamble.
Department of Special Collections
Green Library
Stanford University Libraries
Stanford, CA 94305-6004
Phone: (650) 725-1022
Email: specialcollections@stanford.edu
URL: http://library.stanford.edu/spc/
© 2002
The Board of Trustees of Stanford University. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Engravings and Posters, 1848-1964
Collection number: MSS PRINTS 0048
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Stanford University Libraries
Stanford, California
Contact Information
- Department of Special Collections
- Green Library
- Stanford University Libraries
- Stanford, CA 94305-6004
- Phone: (650) 725-1022
- Email: specialcollections@stanford.edu
- URL: http://library.stanford.edu/spc/
- Processed by:
- Sheryl Nonnenberg
- Date Completed:
- 2002 July
- Encoded by:
- Steven Mandeville-Gamble
© 2002 The Board of Trustees of Stanford University. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Engravings and posters,
Date (inclusive): 1848-1964
Collection number: MSS PRINTS 0048
Creator:
Taller de Grafica Popular
Extent:
172 prints
Repository:
Stanford University. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.
Abstract: Engravings (71) and posters (101) by multiple artists.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
None.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the repository. Literary rights
reside with the creators of the documents or their heirs. To
obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the
Public Services Librarian of the Dept. of Special Collections.
Provenance
Purchased, 2002.
Preferred Citation:
Engravings and Posters. MSS PRINTS 0048. Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Biography
The Taller de Grafica Popular (The Workshop for Popular Graphic Art) was founded in Mexico City in 1937 by artists Leopoldo
Mendez, Pablo O'Higgins and
Luis Arenal. All three men had been involved with the Mexican Mural Movement, under the leadership of Diego Rivera. Other
artists joined the TGP and soon the membership grew to a constant twelve to fifteen members. (see list below)
The basic premise of the group was to be a center of collective work and to provide both pragmatic and philosophical support
to its members. Pragmatically, because most of the artists were poor and could not afford the equipment necessary to create
prints, the TGP provided working quarters and basic equipment in a well lit, orderly atmosphere. Philosophically, the collective
provided a constant source of shared expertise and la critica colectiva, in which members reviewed and critiqued each other's
work. The collective was run as a business, with an executive board and weekly member meetings to discuss common concerns.
There was also an established structure for the commission and sale of member's work. Members would receive two-thirds of
the sale price of individual prints and the TGP one-third. The intent was that the workshop would pay for itself and generate
revenue for the individual artists.
The Taller produced editioned prints, pamphlets, illustrated books and films. Primarily, however, the work of the TGP was
a continuation of the school of Mexican printmaking begun by Jose Posada. Posters, or broadsides, depicting the basic needs
of the working and peasant classes were the most prolific product of the TGP. Like Posada,
TGP artists found that the imagery of the corridos and calaveras were the most successful way to communicate with a largely
illiterate audience. Bold, black and white images with densely printed surfaces are typical of the TGP iconography and reflect
the artists'
admiration for Mexican folk art and Pre-columbian relief sculpture.
Scope and Content
The collection contains prints and posters made by the various members of the Taller de Grafica Popular (The Workshop for
Popular Art). Please refer to the Biographical Note for a complete listing of artists who belonged to the TGP. The collection
is divided in two series: Prints and Posters. There are approximately 63 prints and 101 posters; dimensions for each piece
are given in centimeters.
All of the prints in the collection were executed by the use of linoleum blocks.
Although the process of lithography had been introduced in the 1920's, the stone required for the process was not cheap or
abundant in Mexico. Since the objective of the TGP was to produce large editions in the cheapest manner possible, members
quickly embraced the
linoleum block printing process. Linoleum was the most modern means of printing; it was a cheap and accessible type of "block"
and could be used for both large and small-scale images. If mistakes were made, pieces could be discarded more easily than
with expensive wood or stone. Linoleum also lent itself well to the bold, black and white imagery used by most of the TGP
artists. Leopoldo Mendez, one of the founders of the Taller de Grafica, wrote that there was a certain power in the black
and white print. He felt that it served as a contrast to the colorful backdrop of the country, and was an excellent means
of representing the heavy burden of oppression endured by the Mexican people.
Because the TGP considered itself to be both an artistic cooperative and politically radical group, most of the images in
the collection deal with current events, political figures and social causes. Favorite topics include: poverty and oppression
of the Indian population, oil expropriation, the workers movement, imperialism, literacy and the high cost of living. But
there was also attention to las peguenas cosas cotidianas (the details of daily life), expressed, as Jose Gudalupe Posada
had done years before, by means of corridos and calaveras. After World War II, the TGP members turned their attentions to
peace-time cultural missions such as literacy campaigns, saving archeological sites and promoting the motion picture industry
in Mexico.
Access Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Beltrán.
Bracho, Angel.
Bustos, Arturo Garcia.
Calderon, Celia.
Catlet, E.
Escobedo, Jesús.
Flores, Norberto.
Gómez, Andrea.
Huerta, Elena.
Jiménez, Sarah.
Méndez, Leopoldo.
Mereles, Alfredo.
Mexiac, Adolfo.
Mora, Francisco.
Morales, Antonio.
Ocampo.
O'Higgins, Pablo.
Pache, Fernando Castro.
Quinteros, Adolfo.
Ramirez, Everardo.
Ravel, Fany.
Sosamontes, Ramón.
Ventura, Hector.
Zalce, Alfredo.
Art, Modern--Mexico.
Map Folder 1
Leopoldo Mendezn.d.
Physical Description: 1 Linoleum Block Print
Scope and Content Note
Untitled, 73.7 x 50
Box 1, Folder 1
Adolfo Quinterosn.d.
Physical Description: 3 Linoleum Block Prints
Scope and Content Note
Derecho de Huelga, 1951,25.0 x 32.7; La Fuerza de la Union, 1958, 32.5 x 25.0 ; Untitled (Portrait), 1960, 56.1 x 49.9
Box 1, Folder 2
Norberto Floresn.d.
Physical Description: 2 Linoleum Block Prints
Scope and Content Note
Protesta contra alza de comestibles, 35.2 x 47.4; Untitled, 39.0 x 56.8
Box 1, Folder 3
Fernando Castro Pachecon.d.
Physical Description: 4 Linoleum Block Prints
Scope and Content Note
Asesinato de Obregon, 32.7 x 25.0; Aesinato del General Alvao Obregon, 39.5 x 49.0; Untitled, 35.0 x 44.7; Las Demandas del
Pueblo, 48.0 x 34.6;
Box 1, Folder 4
Jesus Escobedon.d.
Physical Description: 3 Linoleum Block Prints
Scope and Content Note
Los Diplomatica, 50.3 x 38.6; Untitled, 38.7 x 36.0; Untitled, 47.5 x 35.0
Box 1, Folder 5
Leopoldo Mendezn.d.
Physical Description: 9 Linoleum Block Prints
Scope and Content Note
Doria, 23.7 x 34.5; Danza del Maiz, 18 x 28.5; Incidentes Melodicos, 24.1 x 32.1; Untitled, 22 x 28.3; Untitled, 27.2 x 42;
Coscomates, 38 x 44.5; Bestias, 38.2 x 52.8; Soledad, 50.7 x 41.5; Untitled, 44.7 x 57
Box 1, Folder 6
Sarah Jimenez V.n.d.
Physical Description: 6 Linoleum Block Prints
Scope and Content Note
Detencios, 32.5 x 24.7; Mecanicos, 32.5 x 50; Justicia, 33.0 x 50; Zapata Prisionero, 32.7 x 50; Huelguista,50 x 32.5; Untitled,
56.5 x 64.5
Box 1, Folder 7
Angel Brachon.d.
Physical Description: 9 Linoleum Block Prints
Scope and Content Note
Calaveras, 35.2 x 47.3; Aleman y Truman, 50.2 x 32.5; Alto al agcotismo, 28.4 x 35; Chicanos, 31.0 x 41; Anonimo, 35 x 47.5;
La Huelga de Rio Blanco, 35.7 x 47.2; Ola de Hurlgas en Espana, 40.3 x 56.3; Creacion de la CTM, 42.3 x 62.8; La Victoria
de Quetzalcoatl, 53 x 64.3
Box 1, Folder 8
Francisco Moran.d.
Physical Description: 4 Linoleum Block Prints
Scope and Content Note
Untitled, 50 x 32.5; Untitled, 50.5 x 40; Untitled, 27 x 29.5; La Decena Tragica, 65 x 50
Box 1, Folder 9
Arturo Garcia Bustosn.d.
Physical Description: 5 Linoleum Block Prints
Scope and Content Note
Untitled, 31.7 x 40; Untitled, 47.5 x 35; Paris, 1960, 41.5 x 50.5; Il Congreso Campesino, 65.2 x 50.2; Adam Mickiewicz, 65.5
x 50.2
Box 1, Folder 10
Various Artistsn.d.
Physical Description: 12 Linoleum Block Prints
Scope and Content Note
E. Catlet, Quejas del Pueblo, 32.5 x 25.3; Celia Calderon, Recursos Naturales del Mexico, 35 x 47.8; Fany Revel, Untitled,
42 x 62; Adolfo Mexiac, Untitled, 55.8 x 43.9; Everado Ramirez, La Culebra, 51 x 41; Elena Huerta, Constituyentes Mexicanos,
57 x 45; Ramon Sosamontes, Soldado, 45 x 55; Pablo Ohiguins, CTAL Unidad, 34.8 x 47.2; Hector Ventura, Untitled, 35 x 47.5;
Antonio Morales, Trabajadores, 64.8 x 49.7; Ocampo, Dos Pepenadores, 46.2 x 61; Andrea Gomez, Untitled, 49.8 x 64.8
Box 1, Folder 11
Beltrann.d.
Physical Description: 3 Linoleum Block Prints
Scope and Content Note
Untitled, 47.5 x 35; Untitled, 47.7 x 70, Untitled, 47.7 x 70
Box 1, Folder 12
Alfredo Merelesn.d.
Physical Description: 3 Linoleum Block Prints
Scope and Content Note
Calaveras del Sismo, 49.8 x 65.2; Terror en el Mercado, 47.9 x 70; Untitled, 65 x 49.8
Box 1, Folder 13
Alfredo Zalcen.d.
Physical Description: 2 Linoleum Block Prints
Scope and Content Note
Untitled, 36 x 56.8; Amenaza Nazi, 48 x 35
Box 1, Folder 14
Anonymous Artistsn.d.
Physical Description: 5 Linoleum Block Prints
Scope and Content Note
Untitled, 19 x 22.3; Untitled, 30.5 x 41.3; Untitled, 47.5 x 56.6; Untitled, 47.5 x 56.6; Imperialismo, 64.9 x 49.8
Map Folder 2
Postersn.d.
Physical Description: 8 posters
Scope and Content Note
La risa del pueblo, 43.7 x 67.3; Vida y Drama de Mexico, 47.5 x 69.5 [2 copies]; 1869 Universidad Autonoma de Hidalgo, 46.5
x 57.2; Fuera de Panama, 57 x 43.2; La Paz para el progreso, 46.5 x 60.2; Buenos vecinos, buenos amigos, 67.2 x 47.5; La URSS,
67.2 x 46.5.
Map Folder 3
Postersn.d.
Physical Description: 7 posters
Scope and Content Note
50,000 Cubiertas, 50 x 64; La risa del Puebla, 67.5 x 43.5 [2 copies]; El fascisimo conferencia, 67 x 47; El fascisimo conferencia,
67.5 x 46.5; Marisol S. Timoshenka, 67.2 x 46.5 [2 copies]
Map Folder 4
Postersn.d.
Physical Description: 6 posters
Scope and Content Note
Puedes sembrar con mal suelo; Las mejoradas de maiz; Corrido de los tranvias; Corrido de Lopez Perez; Congreso Continental
Americano por la paz, Israel.
Map Folder 5
Postersn.d.
Physical Description: 9 posters
Scope and Content Note
Untitled, 57 x 71; Americana, 61 x 118; Universidad Obrera de Mexico, 61.3 x 81; Los Tranvarios luchan en, 93.3 x 67.7; A
un tiempo nuevo, 95 x 70.3; Homenaja a Cardenas, 56 x 86.4; Exposicion Plateria Mexicana, 61.3 x 81; Victoria!, 60 x 80; Homenaje
a Benito Juarez, 61.5 x 82.1
Map Folder 6
Postersn.d.
Physical Description: 7 posters
Scope and Content Note
Urge un tratado de Paz, 56 x 86.4; Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, 60 x 81; Ultrahe a Mexico, 61 x 81.5; 1ro. de Mayo, 82 x
82.5; Exposicion Puerto Rico, 61.5 x 81.3 [2 copies]; American Continental Congress, 61 x 80.5.
Map Folder 7
Postersn.d.
Physical Description: 12 Posters
Scope and Content Note
Congreso continental Americana, 61 x 80.5; Unidad obrera en torno al, 60 x 80.5; 50 Aniversario, 62.5 x 67.3; 1910 - 1964,
56 x 87.6; Libertemos a los presos politicos, 93.2 x 67.8; Ayuda a impedir este crimen, 40.5 x 60.5; Asamblea de Registro,
61 x 40.5; 20 Aniversario, 46.7 x 72.5; A Siqueiros, al partir, 45.5 x 69.9; Exigimos la construccion de la Escuela Nacional,
61 x 81; Llamamiento, 81 x 61.
Map Folder 8
Postersn.d.
Physical Description: 1 poster
Scope and Content Note
Constitucion, 72 x 106.
Map Folder 9
Postersn.d.
Physical Description: 10 posters
Scope and Content Note
Frente unico de trabajadores, 64 x 49.2; No olvidemos!, 67.5 x 94; Paremos la Agresion, 95 x 70 [2 copies];Conasupo Mexico,
65.8 x 95; Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, 60 x 81; IV Congreso de la C.T.A.L, 70.7 x 95; 1ro. de Mayo, 82 x 82.5; Instituto
Regional de Bellas Artes de Cuernavaca, 92.3 x 67.2; Lazaro Cardenas, 68.5 x 94.5.
Box 2, Folder 1
Various Postersn.d.
Physical Description: 36 Posters
Scope and Content Note
Esto se acabo coche de Diputado, 14.2 x 21 [2 copies]; Esto se acabo 10 cantinas, sindicatos, concesionarios 13.9 x 21.0 [3
copies]; Esto se acabo coche de Diputado, 14.2 x 21 [2 copies]; Esto se acabo camara de Diputados, 14 x 21; La Llorona de
San Carlos, 22.6 x 27; Himno Nacional Mexicano, 30.3 x 40.2; Corrido de Diego Rivera, 30.5 x 40.6; La expropiacion de la Industria
del Petroleo, 22.5 x 34.3; El taller de grafica popular, 23 x 33.3; Vivir con honr y progresar con Independencia, 23.1 x 34.7;
Maestro tu estas solo, 23 x 34; Con una piedra se matan muchos pajaros, 23.2 x 33.8; Campesino de Jalisco, 23.4 x 33.5; Derecho
de huelga, 24.5 x 34.3; En nombre de Cristo, 24.5 x 35.5; Oratorio menor en la muerte de Silvestre, 23 x 33.5 [2 copies];
A correr galinas, 20 x 30.6; Campanero: Adjunto enviamos a usted, 23 x 34, [5 copies]; Los canones de los fusiles de la reaccion,
23 x 33.9; Corrido de Don Chapulin, 23 x 33.5; Toda la tierra para los campesinos, 23 x 32.3; Corrido del comunismo mexicano,
31.1 x 33.5; Seria el politiquero del pri?, 13.7 x 21.7 [2 copies]; Feliz ano 1955, 23.1 x 17.2; Mitin popular de respaldo,
17.8 x 23.6; Homenaje, en su dia a David, 13.2 x 25; Corrido del voto de la mujer, 17.2 x 21.3; Para que quiere ser diputado,
17 x 21.2 [ 3 copies]; Hombres trabajando, 23 x 17; Lazaro Cardenas, 23 x 17; Tractor, 23 x 17; Siempre paz y felicidad, 23
x 17; Expropiacion petrolera, 23 x 17; Exposicion de Estampa del taller de grafica, 35.2 x 47.