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When the USSR conquers imperialist interests and Mexico’s reactions to her putative sons

1939
Not on view
This complicated political caricature broadly refers to the 1939 Winter War in Europe and its repercussions in Mexico. At left a heroic Russian soldier confronts European political leaders (Neville Chamberlain, Benito Mussolini, Édouard Daladier, and Leon Trotsky) and grips a broken umbrella that symbolizes Finland, whose tiny army took on the mighty Soviet force. A confused Hitler holds his head while the League of Nations, pictured as a barking dog, menaces him after the Nazis invaded Poland. The woman at right embodies imperialism, and the parrots screaming, "Communists," at two workers represent conservative Mexican newspapers. The text below criticizes the Mexican press, describing its members as "putative sons" in wordplay that is intentionally close to hijos de puta (sons of whores).



Esta complicada caricatura política hace referencia a la guerra de Invierno de 1939 y a sus repercusiones en México. A la izquierda, un heroico soldado ruso planta cara a varios líderes políticos europeos (Neville Chamberlain, Benito Mussolini, Édouard Daladier y León Trotski) y sujeta un paraguas roto que simboliza a Finlandia, cuyo diminuto ejército se enfrentó a las poderosas fuerzas soviéticas. Un confuso Hitler se lleva la mano a la cabeza mientras la Sociedad de las Naciones, representada como un perro que ladra, lo amenaza tras la invasión nazi de Polonia. La mujer de la derecha encarna al imperialismo, y los loros que gritan «Comunistas» a dos obreros aluden a los periódicos conservadores mexicanos. El texto que aparece debajo critica a la prensa mexicana y describe a sus miembros como «hijos putativos» en un juego de palabras intencionadamente cercano a «hijos de puta».

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: When the USSR conquers imperialist interests and Mexico’s reactions to her putative sons
  • Artist: José Chávez Morado (Mexican, 1909–2002)
  • Artist: Raúl Anguiano (Mexican, 1915–2006)
  • Publisher: Taller de Gráfica Popular, Mexico City
  • Date: 1939
  • Medium: Lithograph on buff paper back with linen
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 17 1/8 × 26 3/16 in. (43.5 × 66.5 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1946
  • Object Number: 46.46.506
  • Rights and Reproduction: © 2025 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

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Pages 1, 2, 7 and 8 of an eight page broadsheet 'Calaveras aftosas con medias naylon' (Hoof and Mouth Skeletons with Nylon Stockings) addressing imperialism with images of 'calaveras' accompanied by 'corridos' (ballads); on the first page, a calavera cow with foot and mouth disease in nylon stockings refering to the contamination of milk
Multiple artists/makers
1947
Pages 3, 4, 5 and 6 of an eight page broadsheet addressing political subjects taken from the newspaper 'Calaveras aftosas con medias naylon' (Hoof and Mouth Skeletons with Nylon Stockings), José Chávez Morado Mexican, Linocuts and letterpress on buff paper
Pages 3, 4, 5 and 6 of an eight page broadsheet addressing political subjects taken from the newspaper 'Calaveras aftosas con medias naylon' (Hoof and Mouth Skeletons with Nylon Stockings)
Multiple artists/makers
1947
A large folio newspaper entitled 'Extra, Extra, War, Skulls/Skeletons Hesitant about the War' comprising six pages richly illustrated; page 1 by Zalce, page 2 by Chávez Morado, page 3 by O'Higgins, page 4 Mendez, page 5 by Chávez Morado, page 6 by O'Higgins
Multiple artists/makers
1939
Poster entitled '50,000 covered' depicting dogs at a 'sumptous feast', José Chávez Morado Mexican, Lithograph and letterpress on buff paper
Poster entitled '50,000 covered' depicting dogs at a 'sumptous feast'
José Chávez Morado
Taller de Gráfica Popular, Mexico City
1939
Poster with two images, on the left by Chávez Morado relating to when the USSR conquers imperialist interests (Hitler on his knees, Mussolini at left etc) and at right by Anguiano, regarding the situation in Mexico and the reactions of her putative sons
Multiple artists/makers
1939

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