Pleito de la suegra con su yerno (Fight of the Mother-in-Law With Her Son-in-Law)

Art Historical Context

In the lively world of 19th-century Spanish print, Manuel Manilla captures everyday domestic drama with wit and flair in *Pleito de lagra con su yernoFight of the Mother-in With Her Son-in-Law. This undated relief etching paper depicts a classic comedic clash between in-laws, a staple of *costumbrismo*— movement celebrating the quirks of Spanish society through satirical vignettes of urban life. Manilla, master engraver from Madrid (ca. 1830–1895), specialized in affordable popular prints that poked fun at family tensions, social types, and Madrid's bustling streets, making high art accessible to the masses. The medium—a relief etching, measuring 30.5 × 40 cm—highlights Manilla's technical prowess. By combining etched lines with relief printing (where ink adheres to raised surfaces), he achieved bold contrasts, sharp details, and a dynamic energy suited to humorous scenes. Produced on paper, these prints were inexpensive to reproduce, fueling Spain's vibrant print culture during a time of social change and industrialization. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings Department, this work reflects the era's fascination with relatable human folly. It invites us to chuckle at timeless family squabbles, reminding visitors of art's power to mirror life's absurdities with enduring charm. (198 words)

About the Artist

Manuel Manilla

Manuel Manilla was a Mexican engraver and printmaker active in Mexico City during the late nineteenth century, where he became one of the most prolific popular artists of his era. Working primarily for the publishing house of Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, Manilla produced hundreds of woodcut and metal engravings that illustrated broadsheets, corridos, and cheap printed literature consumed by a wide urba...