The Mexican Graphic Tradition: Printmaking and the Political—A BIG IDEA project of Sun Valley Museum

The Mexican Graphic Tradition: Printmaking and the Political APRIL 1–JUNE 8, 2022 A BIG IDEA PROJECT

THE MUSEUM 191 Fifth Street East, Ketchum, Idaho Tue–Fri, 10am–5pm Sat, 11am–4pm HAILEY CLASSROOM 314 Second Ave South, Hailey, Idaho Scheduled Class Times SUN VALLEY MUSEUM OF ART P.O. Box 656, Sun Valley, ID 83353 208.726.9491 • svmoa.org

COVER: Sergio Sánchez Santamaría, TGP: 1937-2017, 2017, linocut, courtesy the artist and Annex Galleries, Santa Rosa, CA INTRODUCTION PANELS: José Guadalupe Posada, El vaquero de la muerte [The Cowboy of Death] or La gran calavera de Emiliano Zapata [The Great Skeleton of Emiliano Zapata], c. 1911-1916, relief etching, restrike, The Calle Collection Christie Tirado, Trabajador esencial [Essential Worker], 2020, linocut, courtesy the artist and Davidson Galleries, Seattle

INTERIOR, TOP TO BOTTOM, CLOCKWISE: Artemio Rodríguez, ¡Mickey va!, 2018, linocut, courtesy the artist and Davidson Galleries, Seattle Melanie Cervantes, They Tried to Bury Us, 2019/2022, giclée print, courtesy the artist Melanie Cervantes & Jesus Barraza/ Dignidad Rebelde, The Salmon Will Run Again, giclée print, courtesy the artists Christie Tirado, Dolores (detail), 2022, linocut, courtesy the artist

BACK PANEL: Jesús Escobedo, El fascismo: como combatir el fascismo [Fascism: How to Fight Fascism], 1939, lithograph, The Calle Collection

ince the late 19th century, artists in Mexico

the Dead to folk dances, often within the frame-

have used printmaking as a tool for dis-

work of the country’s post-revolutionary national

seminating news, sharing political views and cel-

identity. Inexpensive to make, reproduce and

ebrating Mexico’s national culture. Throughout

distribute, prints in Mexico have been a popular

the 20th century, Mexican printmakers synthe-

means for trying to shape public opinion.

sized text and images in prints that documented

This BIG IDEA project offers an opportunity

the events of the Mexican Revolution, promoted

to dig into the history of printmaking in Mexico,

leftist politics (including anti-imperialism) and,

consider the deep connections between print-

during World War II, warned Mexico’s citizens

making and the political, and explore the print-

of the dangers of fascism. In other prints, artists

making tradition among Mexican and Mexican

honored Mexico’s cultural traditions, from Day of

American artists today.

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

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The Mexican Graphic Tradition: Printmaking and the Political—A BIG IDEA project of Sun Valley Museum

Published on Mar 10, 2022

Sun Valley Museum of Art

Since the late 19th century, artists in Mexico have used printmaking as a tool for disseminating news, sharing political views and celebrating Mexico’s national culture. Throughout the 20th century, Mexican printmakers synthesized text and images in prints that documented the events of the Mexican Revolution, promoted leftist politics (including anti-imperialism) and, during World War II, warned Mexico’s citizens of the dangers of fascism. In other prints, artists honored Mexico’s cultural traditions, from Day of the Dead to folk dances, often within the framework of the country’s post-revolutionary national identity. Inexpensive to make, reproduce and distribute, prints in Mexico have been a popular means for trying to shape public opinion. This BIG IDEA project offers an opportunity to dig into the history of printmaking in Mexico, consider the deep connections between printmaking and the political, and explore the printmaking tradition among Mexican and Mexican American artists today.