An old woman with a broom in her hand arguing with a younger woman from a broadside entitled 'El Pleito de Vecindad'

Art Historical Context

In the lively broadside *El Pleito de Vecad* ("The Neighborhoodrel"), Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada a timeless domestic spat: an old woman brandishing a broom confronts a younger woman, their exaggerated expressions brimming with fiery indignation. Created around 1880–1910, this type-metal engraving exemplifies Posada's mastery of satirical street art, produced as affordable news sheets (corridos ilustrados) sold in Mexican markets to entertain and comment on everyday life. Posada, a pivotal figure in Mexican graphic arts, used bold, high-contrast lines in relief printing—a technique ideal for mass reproduction on inexpensive metal plates. This small print (image just 3½ × 5⅜ inches) bursts with folkloric energy, reflecting late 19th-century urban tensions in Mexico City, where neighborly feuds were ripe for humor. Brooms, symbols of household authority, add a layer of cultural wit, evoking the spirited resilience of working-class women. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Roberto Berdecio, 1960), this piece highlights Posada's influence on modern Mexican art, foreshadowing the bold visuals of Diego Rivera and the revolutionary muralists. A snapshot of popular culture, it invites us to chuckle at human quirks across generations.

About the Artist

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

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