Broadsheet relating to the terrible flood in the barrio of San Luisito in the city of Monterrey on 15 August 1903, a description in the bottom section

Art Historical Context

This broadsheet from 1903 captures a devastating flood that struck the San Luisito neighborhood of Monterrey, Mexico, on August 15 of that year. Created through type-metal engraving and letterpress printing on tan paper, the sheet combines vivid illustration with a descriptive text at the bottom, serving as both news report and visual record for the public. Published by Antonio Vanegas Arroyo with imagery by José Guadalupe Posada, it reflects the era’s popular print tradition that brought current events to ordinary Mexicans in an accessible format. Posada, a leading figure in Mexican graphic art, specialized in such affordable broadsheets that blended sensational imagery with social commentary. His dynamic engravings often highlighted human drama, and here the inclusion of men and women underscores the flood’s widespread impact on the community. These works were printed quickly and sold cheaply, functioning much like early newspapers while preserving moments of tragedy for posterity. Today, the sheet offers valuable insight into early twentieth-century Mexican life, disaster response, and the power of print media to shape collective memory. Its presence in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection highlights how popular art forms can carry profound historical weight.