Mexican Prints at the Vanguard

Mexican Prints at the Vanguard is the Summer 2024 issue of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, written by Mark McDonald. This digital PDF edition provides an illustrated introduction to The Met’s collection of nearly two thousand Mexican prints.

Download the PDF instantly and explore the history of Mexican printmaking from the mid-eighteenth century to the mid-twentieth century, including works by José Guadalupe Posada and artists connected with Jean Charlot.

Book Overview

This Bulletin accompanies the exhibition Mexican Prints at the Vanguard, on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art from September 12, 2024, through January 5, 2025. It includes a director’s note by Max Hollein and an essay by Mark McDonald, Curator in the Department of Drawings and Prints.

The text traces the development of printmaking in Mexico, beginning with the first press established in 1539 and continuing through the social and political uses of prints after the 1910–20 Mexican Revolution. It also explains how the artist Jean Charlot helped form The Met’s collection through his own donations and through his relationships with Mexican artists and publishers.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• The role of printmaking in Mexican political, social, and artistic life
• The influence of José Guadalupe Posada and his calavera imagery
• Early Mexican lithographs, woodcuts, engravings, and letterpress works
• How Jean Charlot’s friendships shaped The Met’s nearly two thousand prints
• Examples from the exhibition, including rare and unique works

Why This Book Matters

Mexican prints have long served as agents of social and political change, from religious book illustrations to satirical lithographs and post-revolutionary woodcuts. The Met’s collection, formed largely through Jean Charlot, includes many rarely exhibited works. This Bulletin makes that material accessible and places it in the broader story of Mexican art and identity.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download and no physical item will be shipped. After purchase, you can access the PDF immediately. It is compatible with Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and common reading apps.

FAQ

How do I get access after purchase? You will receive an instant download link after completing your purchase.

Will a physical copy be shipped? No. This is a digital download only, so no physical copy is shipped.

What devices are supported? The PDF works with Kindle apps, tablets, desktop and mobile reading apps.

Add Mexican Prints at the Vanguard to your digital library and enjoy immediate access to this illustrated museum Bulletin.