José Guadalupe Posada
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He was born in the San Marcos neighborhood of Aguascalientes on February 2, 1852.
His father was Don Germán Posada Serna, and his mother was Doña Petra Aguilar Portillo. Coming from a humble family, he was educated by his brother José Cirilo, a teacher in the San Marcos neighborhood whom he assisted by drawing "monos" (sketches or cartoons) to illustrate his classes.
He continued his training at the municipal Academy of Arts and Crafts, and by 1867, Guadalupe Posada was registered as a "painter" in the General Registry of Neighbors. He illustrated with José Trinidad Pedroza, a typographer and editor of newspapers critical of the government of Jesús Gómez Portugal, as well as the newspaper "Jicote". Both emigrated to the city of León, eager to escape possible reprisals. They set up a small workshop that eventually fell into the hands of Posada. Settling in León, he married María de Jesús Obregón Vela in 1875, and was hired as a teacher at the Secondary Instruction School. It was during this period that he published the school newspaper "La educación", produced by students from the school.
After a terrible flood that devastated León, Posada moved to the capital of the country and set up his own engraving workshop. At this time he learned more of the craft in terms of engraving techniques in lead and zinc, from the hand of Manuel Manilla. From then on it illustrates flyers that are published "when the events of sensation require it". He also forges in the illustration of stories with "Don Chepito, el mariguano", illustrates the Children’s Library, designs boards for the game of the goose, snakes and ladders, the taurine goose, and other pastimes for children.
The work of Guadalupe Posada was mainly intended for the illustration of tales, songs, stories, short stories and current events, which in the form of corridos were printed and sold in a popular way in multiple squares and gardens. His illustrations were quickly accepted and recognized in Mexico City.
José Guadalupe Posada died in loneliness and poverty on January 20, 1913, in house number 6, Calle de La Paz, in the Barrio de Tepito of Mexico City. His body was placed in a mass grave where it could never be recovered. It is estimated that his work amounts to 20 thousand published pieces, it was thanks to the interest of the French painter Jean Charlot that Posada’s work began to be revalued and admired.
* Learn more about the work of this iconic artist in the Museum Posada Located next to the Temple of the Lord of Encino in the Triana neighborhood of Aguascalientes.
