The Mexican Printmakers - Part 1

Jose Chavez Morado, Escuela rural (Country School), 1936

Because I make relief prints, I was very happy to see original prints by of some of the Mexican masters of the early 20th century, in a show about the Arte Moderno movement (Modernism) and Mexican Identity at the Chapultepec Castle. In this post I'm just going to share some of my favorite prints, by different artists using different styles.

Some of these images were made to encourage social programs, agriculture, the building of schools.

Alfredo Zalce, Cosecha de maiz (Corn Harvest), 1948

 

Adolfo Mexiac, Ejidos comunales (no date)

Alfredo Zalce, Jurado popular (Popular jury), 1945. Look at the confidence and expressiveness of Zalce's carving - he was amazing.  

Others commemorated particular events or people.

Alfredo Zalce, Portrait of Venustiano Carranza (first president of the republic) (not dated)

But prints by enormously talented artists were also a major means of political commentary, and I must say they feel more direct and effective than a lot of what goes on today.

Alberto Beltran y Elizabeth Catlett, Detengamos la guerra (Stop the war),1951

Finally, this lithograph seemed particularly timely:

Jose Chavez Morado, La Nube de mentiras (The Cloud of Lies), 1940

Comments

[samkerson]

Great, Nice to see them once in a while!! Zalce I have always been charmed by.

[Leslee]

These are wonderful!

[Hattie]

Wonderful, strong stuff. Dynamic. I see the German influence!

[Natalie]

Terrific, especially Zaice.

Beth, you put so much care and attention into your posts, it's sad that so few people come to blogs nowadays. It didn't used to be like this, as all we long-time bloggers know! I'm not lamenting progress, just wondering if it is indeed progress when success, in social media terms, is measured by how fast people can read what one has to say and how little time needs to be given to responding. Yes it's encouraging to get many 'likes' on FB but isn't it more encouraging when visitors actually engage with something one has taken the trouble to communicate?

[Beth]

Thank you, Sam, Leslee, Hattie.

Natalie, yes, it's frustrating, I completely agree. I was happy to see a boost in visits for these two posts about printmaking - largely because I shared the link on FB with a group I belong to called Linocut Friends, which is quite active. If I didn't link my posts to FB my traffic would be even less, but I refuse to spend much time there. I suppose to some extent the blog still functions like a diary for me - it is a record of what I find important and interesting, and want to explore, so it satisfies that desire in me, and if others find something of value here too, then that's great. I miss the old days of blogging very much, though; we've lost that sense of interaction and community because everyone's attention is scattered over so many places. You and I and a few others are still here though, and I'm glad for that!