The Printmaker of Skeletons: José Guadalupe Posada
Long before the ornate skeleton known as "La Catrina" became an internationally recognized symbol of Mexico's Day of the Dead, she began as a simple ink-and-metal engraving created by a hardworking printmaker named José Guadalupe Posada. Born in 1852 in the central Mexican city of Aguascalientes, Posada grew up in a working-class household. Recognizing his early talent for drawing, his family enrolled him in an arts academy, where he learned the demanding craft of lithography and printmaking. By his teenage years, Posada was already illustrating political cartoons for local newspapers, discovering early on that images could express ideas far more boldly than the written word.
- lithography:
- A printing process that involves drawing a design onto a flat stone or metal plate with a greasy substance.
- broadsheets:
- Large, inexpensive sheets of paper printed on one or both sides, commonly used to distribute news and public notices.
- satire:
- The use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to expose and criticize people's foolishness, corruption, or social flaws.
- indigenous:
- Originating naturally in a particular region; native to a specific land or culture prior to foreign arrival.
- engraving:
- A print made by cutting or etching a design onto a hard surface, inking it, and pressing it onto paper.
- obscurity:
- The state of being unknown, inconspicuous, or forgotten by the general public.
- prolific:
- Producing a large quantity of work, fruit, or results.
- heritage:
- The traditions, achievements, beliefs, and cultural traits handed down from past generations.
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Purpose
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Structure
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Fact & Opinion
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How does the author introduce José Guadalupe Posada's legacy before detailing his personal history?
- 2Why was visual art particularly effective for political and social communication in late nineteenth-century Mexico City?
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About this biography passage for Middle School
“The Printmaker of Skeletons: José Guadalupe Posada” is a biography reading passage about José Guadalupe Posada, written for Middle School. It takes about 3 minutes to read (457 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.