José Guadalupe Posada

Creator Details

  • Birth

    1852 (Aguascalientes, Mexico)

  • Death

    1913 (Mexico City, Mexico)

José Guadalupe Posada was a Mexican illustrator known for his satirical calaveras—illustrations featuring skeletons and skulls. Published throughout Mexico during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Posada’s woodcuts and wood engravings appeared in inexpensive literature, most notably politically charged broadsides dealing with pressing political issues of the day. Following Posada’s death, his calaveras came to be associated with the celebrations of Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). More than 400 of Posada’s works are in the Carter’s collection, including newspaper illustrations, broadsides, and a selection of his original printing blocks.