Searching for Posada--ART and Revolutions to Screen at La Calaca Festival Mexico

What better place to screen the documentary about the artist who, more than anyone else, popularized the Calavera?

http://lacalacafestival.com/2017/evento/searching/

 

 

Jose Guadalupe Posada and the Klu Klux Klan

Two images were joined together to form one for this unflattering look at the Klu Klux Klan. The large calavera on the left was cut from the broadside entitled Gran Calavera Electrica, it is signed in the plate by Posada. The portion on the right with the klansman in the white sheet is an unsigned addition and likely not by Posada. Although the Klu Klux Klan formed in the US in the 1860s, its influence in Mexico has been noted beginning around 1915 and into the early 1920s. The Mexican version of the KKK (unlike the racist based US KKK), was a group of upper-class men that adopted KKK clothing to remain anonymous with the idea that they would rout out corruption as an activist organization. One leading newspaper, Excelsior, battled against the group taking the position that crimes were being committed behind identity concealing sheets and that even if there were just intentions, the ultimate result was increased crime. As an aside, the KKK were active mainly in the southern US, but as well as in San Diego during the 1920s where some records show evidence of its interaction with Mexicans coming to the US for work.This broadside was satirizing the Mexican based KKK, calling them out as brave while they hid behind sheets. It was likely printed after Posada's death by Blas Vanegas Arroyo, possibly in the early 1920s (1923?) but its exact date is unknown. Regardless, it shows the reuse of Posada's artwork for social commentary.



Mexican Gameboards by Jose Guadalupe Posada

Posada illustrated at least a dozen gameboards for the Vanegas Arroyo printing house. This particular game called Juego de la Oca or Game of the Goose may have originated in Europe but as seen in this version is believed to have appeared in Mexico during the 1880s. There are 63 little boxes, dice were rolled and pieces advanced (and sometimes turned back) with the winning objective to be the first to land in the Garden of the Goose. The print of this gameboard was made with an acid etching and signed by Posada. It is still played in Mexico to this day.