A man jumping up after pricking his finger on a cactus

Art Historical Context

Behold *A Man Jumping Up After Pricking Finger on a Cactus a delightful type-metal engraving by the renowned Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, possibly in collaboration with José Sanchez, around 1880–1910. This tiny gem, measuring just under 3 by 2 ½ inches in its image area, captures a split-second of comedic misfortune: a man leaping in surprise after tangling with a spiky cactus. Posada's sharp, expressive line work brings the scene to life with exaggerated motion and wry humor, poking fun at everyday mishaps in Mexican life. Crafted in type-metal engraving—a relief printing technique using metal plates akin to typesetting— this print was designed for affordable reproduction in popular broadsheets (corridos). During Mexico's late 19th- and early 20th-century turbulent era under Porfirio Díaz, Posada's satirical works like this one entertained the masses, blending folklore, daily struggles, and slapstick with masterful simplicity. Its small scale belies its cultural punch, reflecting rural realities where cacti were both ubiquitous and treacherous. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Roberto Berdecio, 1960), this piece exemplifies Posada's enduring legacy in Mexican graphic art, influencing later generations like the muralists. A perfect snapshot of humor in hardship!

About the Artist

José Guadalupe Posada|José Sanchez · 1852–1913

José Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913) was a Mexican printmaker and engraver who revolutionized popular art and created some of the most iconic images in Mexican culture. Working primarily with publisher Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, he produced over 20,000 images during his career—inexpensive broadsheets sold for a penny on colored paper that made his art accessible to even the poorest workers. He transform...