A man with a pitcher in his hand tapping the shoulder of another man resting on wooden beam

Art Historical Context

This lively zincograph, titled *A Man with a Pitcher in His Handapping the Shoulder of Another Resting on a Wooden*, captures a candid moment of everyday interaction, likely from Mexican street life. Created by the renowned illustrator José Guadalupe Posada ( possible collaboration by José Sanchez) around 1880–1910, it exemplifies Posada's signature satirical style. The small-scale print—measuring just under 5 by 7 inches—features men (and hints of women per its tags) in a casual, humorous exchange, with a pitcher suggesting camaraderie, refreshment, or perhaps a wake-up call. Zincography, Posada's preferred medium, involved etching designs onto zinc plates for inexpensive relief printing, enabling mass production of broadsheets sold cheaply in Mexico City markets. This technique democratized art, reaching working-class audiences during Mexico's turbulent Porfiriato era and lead-up to the Revolution. Posada, a master of bold lines and expressive figures, often infused such scenes with social commentary on daily struggles, vices, and human folly. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Roberto Berdecio, 1960), this print highlights Posada's enduring influence on Mexican graphic art and popular culture, foreshadowing modern political cartoons and Day of the Dead imagery. A charming glimpse into 19th-century life!

About the Artist

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

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