L'Artigiano
Though categorized under realism, this tiny profile sketch by José Guadalupe Posada is pure, biting satire. The mustachioed man represents the honest 'craftsman' mentioned in the Spanish poem below, which declares that Hell is packed with corrupt politicians and government bureaucrats, but completely empty of hardworking artisans. Posada was the master of the Mexican broadside—cheap, mass-produced prints that served as the political cartoons of the late 19th century. He spent his life poking fun at the elite and championing the working class, and his gritty, accessible style later inspired famous muralists like Diego Rivera.
- Technique
- ink illustration
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- paper
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