Broadsheet showing the perpetrators of the crime on Profesa Street on their way to San Juan de Ulua

Art Historical Context

In the late 19th century, printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, in collaboration with publisher Antonio Van Arroyo, produced vibrant broadsheets like this one from around 1891. Titled *Broadsheet showing the of the crime on Prof Street on their way to Juan de Ulua*, it depicts men—likely the criminals—being transported by boat to the notorious San Juan de Ulúa prison Veracruz, a fortress-turned-penitentiary off Mexico's coast. These affordable prints captured public attention with sensational true-crime stories, blending news, illustration, and text to inform and entertain the masses. Crafted using type-metal engraving and letterpress on buff paper (measuring 15 3/4 × 11 13/16 in.), the work exemplifies Posada's mastery of relief printing techniques. This method allowed for bold, high-contrast images and text produced in large quantities, making art accessible beyond elite circles. Posada's stark, dramatic style—hallmarks of his oeuvre—influenced Mexican graphic arts and folk traditions, foreshadowing revolutionary posters. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece offers a window into everyday Mexican life and justice in the Porfiriato era, highlighting how popular media sensationalized urban crime and punishment. A testament to Posada's enduring legacy as the "printmaker of the people."

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...