Broadsheet with a verse about a woman who rejects a male suitor for another, vignettes of a woman talking to various men

Art Historical Context

This spirited broadsheet by José Guadalupe Posada captures the playful drama of courtship in early 20th-century Mexico. Titled *Broadsheet with a about a woman who rejects male suitor for another vignettes of a woman talking various men*, it features rhyming verse alongside vignettes depicting a coquettish woman chatting with multiple suitors, ultimately spurning one for another. Printed on tan paper around 1900–1913, this work exemplifies Posada's mastery of popular satire, blending humor with social commentary on romance and gender dynamics. Posada, a pioneering Mexican printmaker, was renowned for his bold, folk-inspired illustrations that critiqued society during the Porfiriato era, just before the Mexican Revolution. His prints, often distributed as affordable broadsheets (corridos ilustrados), brought art to the working class, influencing later movements like the Taller de Gráfica Popular. This piece reflects the era's vibrant street culture, where such ephemera entertained and poked fun at everyday life. Crafted via zincograph—a zinc-plate etching technique—and letterpress, the 11 5/8 × 7 7/8 in. sheet allowed for inexpensive, high-volume production. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it highlights Posada's enduring legacy in graphic arts, preserving the wit and whimsy of Mexico's popular press.

About the Artist

José Guadalupe Posada · 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...