Broadside with 48 scenes relating to zarzuela(?) 'los infiernos de Madrid'

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant chaos of 19th-century Madrid with this captivating wood engraving by José María Marés, in 1871. Titled *Broadside with 48 relating to zarzuela 'los infiernos de Madrid'*, large sheet (17 5/16 × 13 inches) serves as a dynamic visual compendium, likely promoting or illustrating a zarzuela—a lively Spanish musical theater genre blending comedy, satire, and song. The title evokes "The Hells of Madrid," suggesting a humorous or critical portrayal of the city's underbelly, filled with vignettes of men and women navigating urban temptations, follies, and daily life. Wood engraving, a precise 19th-century printmaking technique, allowed Marés to pack 48 intricate scenes into a single composition, showcasing the medium's prowess for detailed, reproducible imagery ideal for broadsides—affordable posters used for advertisements and public entertainment. Popular in Spain's golden age of zarzuela, such prints captured the era's cultural pulse, reflecting Madrid's bustling streets and social commentary amid rapid urbanization. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (acquired via the Max G. Wildnauer Fund in 1978), this piece offers a window into how art democratized theater, inviting everyday audiences to revel in the dramatic "infernos" of their city. A delightful blend of wit and craftsmanship!

About the Artist

José María Marés · 1850–1870

José María Marés was a Spanish printer, publisher, and broadside producer active in Madrid from approximately 1850 to 1870. Operating first from addresses on the Calle de Relatores and later from the Plazuela de la Cebada under the imprint Imprenta de Marés y Compañía, he ran one of the more prolific popular-print establishments in mid-nineteenth-century Madrid. His presses produced illustrated br...