Poster relating to the reform of art education in Mexico

1928

Not on view

During the 1920s, Mexican artists demanded the radical reform of art education. In 1928 Fernández Ledesma and others formed an activist group called ¡30 30! after a carbine rifle used during the 1910–20 revolution. This poster expresses one of the group’s aims: to close the National Art Academy forever. The academy is represented as a bull that kicks a student while a professor (possibly representing its director Manuel Toussaint) suckles it. "Inspiration" can be found in bottle of wine on the ground, and at left a figure labeled "borloteros" (a person who creates disorder) is about to release a slingshot.

Durante la década de 1920, los artistas mexicanos exigieron una reforma radical de la educación artística. En 1928, Fernández Ledesma formó con varios de ellos un grupo de activistas llamado ¡30 30! en referencia a una carabina usada durante la revolución de 1910-20. El cartel expresa uno de los objetivos del grupo: cerrar definitivamente la Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes. La Escuela es representada como un toro que cocea a un alumno mientras un profesor (posiblemente su director Manuel Toussaint) bebe de sus ubres. En la botella de vino tirada en el suelo se puede leer «Inspiración» y, a la izquierda, una figura con el rótulo «borloteros» —una persona que provoca tumultos— está a punto de disparar un tirachinas.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Title: Poster relating to the reform of art education in Mexico
Artist: Gabriel Fernández Ledesma (Mexican, Aguascalientes 1900–1983 Mexico City)
Date: 1928
Medium: Woodcut on pink paper
Dimensions: Sheet: 18 7/8 × 23 5/8 in. (48 × 60 cm)
Image: 13 3/4 × 17 11/16 in. (35 × 45 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Gift of Gabriel Fernández Ledesma, 1930
Object Number: 30.88.2
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By Gabriel Fernández Ledesma

In the same medium

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Progressive proof 'A' in yellow for 'Skull and Bull', Gabriel Fernández Ledesma Mexican, Lithograph — Progressive proof 'A' in yellow for 'Skull and Bull'
Gabriel Fernández Ledesma
ca. 1930

Large palm tree in front of the coastal town 'Morro de Santa Tierra (Rio de Janeiro)', from the portfolio '15 Grabados en madera' (Madrid 1929), Gabriel Fernández Ledesma Mexican, Woodcut — Large palm tree in front of the coastal town 'Morro de Santa Tierra (Rio de Janeiro)', from the portfolio '15 Grabados en madera' (Madrid 1929)
Gabriel Fernández Ledesma
1924 (published 1929)

Progressive proofs 'A and B and C' in yellow, pink and red for 'Skull and Bull', Gabriel Fernández Ledesma Mexican, Lithograph — Progressive proofs 'A and B and C' in yellow, pink and red for 'Skull and Bull'
Gabriel Fernández Ledesma
ca. 1930

Progressive proof 'E' in green for 'Skull and Bull', Gabriel Fernández Ledesma Mexican, Lithograph — Progressive proof 'E' in green for 'Skull and Bull'
Gabriel Fernández Ledesma
ca. 1930

View of New York, from the portfolio '15 Grabados en madera' (Madrid 1929), Gabriel Fernández Ledesma Mexican, Woodcut — View of New York, from the portfolio '15 Grabados en madera' (Madrid 1929)
Gabriel Fernández Ledesma
1922 (published 1929)

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