Calavera Revolucionaria

The Revolutionary Skeleton

6 Aug, 2014 | From Lando of Mexico

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Jose Guadalupe Posada is the father of Mexican printmaking. His original etching Calavera Revolucionaria ('Revolutionary Skeleton') was originally published as a broadside around 1910. It depicts a 'soldadera', that is a female soldier or camp follower who travelled with the revolutionary armies of Madero, Huerta, Zapata, Pancho Villa and others. A quartet of delightfully happy revolutionaries adorn the background.

The Spanish word 'calavera' means 'skull', and by extension 'skeleton'. Skeletons later became a huge part of the Mexican culture, especially during the celebration of the day of the dead. Celebrations vary from place to place. Lando shared that last year in his town, he and his friends were riding horses then went to the graveyard and ate and drank in his grandfather's grave. His German friend was completely shocked by that.

Source: Art of the Print