Corrido del diestro Banderillero Antonio Soriano (a) Maera Chico (Ballad of the Skilled Bullfighter Antonio Soriano, also known as Maera Chico)

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of early 20th-century Mexican popular culture with José Guadalupe Posada's *Corrido del diestro Banderill Antonio Soriano (a) Maera Chico* (Ballad of the Bullfighter Antonio Soriano also known as Maera). This undated relief print on paper, measuring 30 × 39.8 cm, captures the heroism of the famed banderillero—a bullfighter skilled in placing barbed sticks into the bull's shoulders during a corrida. Posada, a Mexican printmaker (1852–1913), immortalized such corridos, narrative folk ballads that celebrated local legends, news, and tragedies on affordable broadsheets. Rendered in bold relief etching—a technique using incised metal plates for high-contrast black-and-white images—Posada's work exemplifies his signature folk-art style: dynamic lines, exaggerated forms, and a satirical edge. Produced for mass distribution via inexpensive printing presses, these prints brought art to the masses, blending journalism with visual storytelling in Mexico City's bustling streets. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, this piece highlights bullfighting's cultural fervor in Porfirian Mexico, where corridos like this one turned everyday heroes into icons. Posada's enduring legacy paved the way for modern graphic design and artists like Diego Rivera, offering visitors a window into a lively era of public spectacle and resilience.

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...