A man sitting on a bed being poked with a broom by someone under the bed, illustration for 'Por Finjir Espantos,' edited by Antonio Vanegas Arroyo

Art Historical Context

This zincograph by José Guadalupe Posada captures a playful yet eerie domestic scene: a man seated on a bed reacts in surprise as an unseen figure beneath pokes him with a broom. Created as an illustration for the chapbook “Por Finjir Espantos” (“To Feign Frights”), published by Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, the image reflects Posada’s talent for turning everyday moments into witty visual stories. Working in Mexico between roughly 1880 and 1910, Posada produced thousands of such prints for popular broadsides and inexpensive booklets. His bold, economical line work—perfectly suited to the zincograph process—allowed these images to reach a wide audience at low cost. The small scale (roughly five by three inches) made the prints easy to fold into pamphlets or post on walls, turning art into a lively part of street culture. Today the work offers a charming glimpse into late-nineteenth-century Mexican humor and graphic tradition. Posada’s lively figures and knack for visual punch lines helped shape a distinctly Mexican popular aesthetic that would later influence muralists and modern printmakers alike.

About the Artist

José Sanchez|José Guadalupe Posada (Mexican|Mexican) · 1895 |1851 –1910 |1913

Mexican, active ca. 1900–1910|Mexican, 1851–1913