José Guadalupe Posada
This Mexican cartoonist and satirist was born near Aguascalientes. His older brother taught him to read. He was apprenticed to his family's pottery business, and then to an engraver. When he was 19, he began work for a newspaper as a political cartoonist. Throughout his childhood, Posada saw death all around him as cholera raged through the Indian village where he lived as well as frequent famines.
He married and moved to León, and then Mexico City. He is most famous for his calaveras or folk-art skeletons, but did a lot of other drawings and lithographs in his day. As a working artist and political activist, he made religious pictures, cityscapes, advertisements, newspaper illustrations, and matchbook covers.
The great Mexican painters Diego Rivera and Juan Orozco both were inspired by the folk-art popular and political flavor of Posada's work.
He married and moved to León, and then Mexico City. He is most famous for his calaveras or folk-art skeletons, but did a lot of other drawings and lithographs in his day. As a working artist and political activist, he made religious pictures, cityscapes, advertisements, newspaper illustrations, and matchbook covers.
The great Mexican painters Diego Rivera and Juan Orozco both were inspired by the folk-art popular and political flavor of Posada's work.
La Catrina or The High-Falutin Lady
"La Catrina" is a humorous and macabre portrait of a well-dressed lady. She grins (as all skulls do) in a rather fetching manner, showing off her lovely hat.
Since Posada's zinc print, Catrinas have become part of the Day of the Dead decorations.
Since Posada's zinc print, Catrinas have become part of the Day of the Dead decorations.
Day of the Dead Lesson Plans (for October 19, 2012)
Lesson: Begin with relaxation, and a warm-up from Mona Brooks' "Drawing with Children."
Mini-Lecture: El Día de los Muertos, on November 1, is a Mexican holiday. The Aztecs spent a month celebrating their ancestors, and the Mexicans now combine pagan and Catholic ritual on this day. They visit the graves of their loved ones, pray for them, and decorate their homes and graveyards with marigolds, skeletons, and candy.
Discussion: Why would artists want to draw skulls? (Many answers, including that artists would want to know the underlying bone structure of people in order to draw them accurately, and that skulls are a metaphor for death, which is an emotional topic for people and hence a powerful artistic subject.)
Stations: Three stations, fifteen minutes apiece, choice of five (see below). Encourage students to include Station 5 in their choices.
Discussion: Posada's life, including his Aztec ethnicity. Folk art. Skeletons and indigenous life. Influence of Catholicism, Aztecs, daily life.
Masterwork: Do a linoleum print for El Día de los Muertes. Use what you have learned about drawing skulls and Posada's art.
Mini-Lecture: El Día de los Muertos, on November 1, is a Mexican holiday. The Aztecs spent a month celebrating their ancestors, and the Mexicans now combine pagan and Catholic ritual on this day. They visit the graves of their loved ones, pray for them, and decorate their homes and graveyards with marigolds, skeletons, and candy.
Discussion: Why would artists want to draw skulls? (Many answers, including that artists would want to know the underlying bone structure of people in order to draw them accurately, and that skulls are a metaphor for death, which is an emotional topic for people and hence a powerful artistic subject.)
Stations: Three stations, fifteen minutes apiece, choice of five (see below). Encourage students to include Station 5 in their choices.
Discussion: Posada's life, including his Aztec ethnicity. Folk art. Skeletons and indigenous life. Influence of Catholicism, Aztecs, daily life.
Masterwork: Do a linoleum print for El Día de los Muertes. Use what you have learned about drawing skulls and Posada's art.
Day of the Dead Station 1
Draw skulls from front and side. Be able to draw them from memory. Use my prompts to draw from, but refer back to the scientific illustration for greater accuracy.
Day of the Dead Station 2
This is a copy of Posada's "La Catrina" Use my prompts to learn how to draw it, but refer back to Posada's original. Be able to draw it from memory.
Day of the Dead Station 3: Don Quixote
This skeletal rider on a skeletal horse is Posada's "Don Quixote." I focused on individual figures for you to draw. You can also try one without a prompt.
Day of the Dead Station 4: La Lotería - one way to play it.
Play Concentration with the Lotería cards provided. The usual way to play Lotería is like Bingo, which is how we will play it next week.
Day of the Dead Station 5: La Lotería - create
Design and make a Lotería card. Copy one of these or make your own. Fill the entire space with figures or vegetation. Suggested cards: La Bruja (The Witch), El Vampiro (The Vampire, La Calabaza (The Pumpkin), El Fantasma (The Ghost), El Pirata (The Pirate), La Bailarina (The Ballerina). After class, I'll collect them and make copies so we can have our own game, to be played next week.