In the SU Art Gallery’s current exhibition, “Print Making Revolution,” Mexican art throughout the early 20th century is described as a form of rebellion against the corrupt central government. Print makers intertwine their art with political and social commentary.
The earliest black and white lithograph prints in the collection are small in scale, using negative space to portray ominous illustrations or iconography of skeletons. The prints later progressed into more intricate and more developed scenes. For example, Leopoldo Méndez’s “Tengo Sed” (I Am Thirsty) shows a narrative of a man in a drought, the sky directing the eye toward his face and torso.
Poster prints were later employed by the Mexican government to sway public opinion. The color red was frequently inherent in the propaganda, portraying strength, power, and war–which works well with the government’s intended message.
However, most of the Mexican prints throughout the 20th century remain black and gray, expressing sadness. “Print Making Revolution” displays the sentiments and hardship as many struggled to find work and education. Across many artists’ prints, grief seems to be a consistent sentiment for life in Mexico.
