Broadsheet relating to Saint Anthony of Padua who is shown holding the Christ child flanked by a candelabra with flowers

Art Historical Context

This striking broadsheet from around 1900–1913 captures the beloved Saint Anthony of Padua tenderly holding the Christ Child, flanked by an ornate candelabra blooming with flowers. Created by the iconic Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada collaboration with publisher Antonio Van Arroyo, it exemplifies the's prolific output of affordable, mass-produced imagery for everyday Mexicans. Posada, renowned for his bold black-line style and satirical calaveras (skeleton prints), here turns his hand to devotional art blending piety with visual drama. Printed using type-metal engraving and letterpress on humble tan paper, the work highlights the ingenuity of relief printing techniques—simple yet effective for high-volume production on rudimentary presses. These broadsheets, sold cheaply in markets and streets, served as vital cultural touchstones during Mexico's turbulent Porfiriato era, bridging literacy gaps by vividly retelling saints' stories and fostering popular devotion. Saint Anthony, patron of lost objects and the poor, resonated deeply with working-class audiences seeking solace amid social upheaval. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this 11 13/16 × 8 1/16 in. piece endures as a testament to Posada's versatility and the power of print to democratize religious iconography, inviting viewers to ponder faith's role in daily life.

About the Artist

José Guadalupe Posada|Antonio Vanegas Arroyo · 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...