Broadsheet relating to a bullfight with the famous bullfighter Rodolfo Gaona in the ring at Puebla on 13 December 1908, a description in the bottom section continuing on verso ending with an image of him jumping over a bull

Art Historical Context

This vibrant broadsheet from 1908 captures a thrilling bull featuring the celebrated Mexican torero Rodolfo Gaona at the ring in Puebla on 13. Produced as an affordable print for popular audiences it combines a lively textual account of the eventspanning the front and—with a dynamic zincograph illustration of Gaona dramatically leaping over the bull. The work reflects excitement surrounding bullfighting as a national spectacle in early twentieth-century Mexico. Created through the collaboration of illustrator Manuel Manilla, publisher Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, and the renowned printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, the sheet employs zincography and letterpress on tan paper. This accessible medium allowed for mass distribution of news, entertainment, and cultural stories to everyday readers. Posada’s distinctive graphic style brings energy and immediacy to the scene, turning a sporting event into a memorable visual narrative. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of drawings and prints, this modest yet engaging piece (measuring just 12 by 7⅞ inches) offers a window into Mexico’s rich tradition of popular graphics and the enduring fascination with figures like Gaona.

About the Artist

Manuel Manilla|Antonio Vanegas Arroyo|José Guadalupe Posada

Manuel Manilla was a Mexican engraver and printmaker active in Mexico City during the late nineteenth century, where he became one of the most prolific popular artists of his era. Working primarily for the publishing house of Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, Manilla produced hundreds of woodcut and metal engravings that illustrated broadsheets, corridos, and cheap printed literature consumed by a wide urba...