José Guadalupe Posada

José Guadalupe Posada (2 February 1852 – 20 January 1913) was a Mexican engraver and illustrator. Jose started his career in 1871 as the poliHcal cartoonist for a local newspaper. AKer eleven issues the newspaper closed, because one of his cartoons had offended a powerful local poliHcian. (Happy dance and wild party of all the skeletons) A cemetery, presumably crowded with vicHms of the then fairly new electrical conveyances. There were many disasterous accidents, one or which involved the future arHst Frida Kahlo, who spent most of the rest of her life in a wheelchair due to a horrible trolly accident in which her spine was broken in several places. Frida Kahlo later became an internaHonally acclaimed surrealisHc arHst who was also known as the wife of Diego Rivera, a famous muralist. Posada went on to produce an esHmated twenty thousand works over the course of his life. His subject maVer included natural disasters and saHrical commentary concerning poliHcs, the common people, and revoluHon (which occurred during his lifeHme). Dia de los Muertos Come the end of the October, it's not at all uncommon to see scary
skeletons lurking around the neighborhoods, thanks to Halloween. But thanks to Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), friendly
skeletons are just as welcome. The Mexican holiday, Nov. 1 and 2,
celebrates the wondrous cycle of life by recognizing - but not
fearing - death.
It is a day to reflect on the warm and fuzzy memories and share
happy stories, rather than mourning the absence of the dearly
departed.
We welcome them by dedicating a variety of festive, colorful
activities in their honor, such as building an ofrenda that includes
that individual's favorite foods, hobbies, music, pictures and more. ALTARS….Day of the Dead
Altars, or ofrendas, are not for worshiping but for offering our love and remembering our departed family members. It is not a sad ritual. It's a day of happiness because we will be remembering our loved ones. It is not a careless or fearless confronta=on of death. It is a moment to reflect upon one's life and the cycle of life and death. The Cemetery… Days of Remembrance
Meant to be a Hme to remember the dead as well as to honor the conHnuity of life, the community celebraHons are social and fesHve. Families clean and decorate their relaHves' graves and eat picnic meals in the graveyard. Spirits return, and are drawn by the ofrendas (altars with offerings), which serve as thresholds between this world and the next. THE SPIRIT OF POSADA …1
The name Posada and lively skeletons are linked as few other icons of contemporary Day of the Dead culture. Jose Guadalupe Posada (1852-­‐1913) popularized Mexico's life of the dead in biHngly saHric, mass-­‐produced etchings and lithographs that have enthralled Mexicans for generaHons. By depicHng social and poliHcal personaliHes as calaveras, Posada's posters achieved lasHng and unrivaled popularity. By caricaturing his targets in their bare bones, his scathing and oKen risky poliHcal saHre became funnier and thus more acceptable. In his posters, priests, poliHcians, farmers and streetsweepers share the same desHny -­‐ death, an end neither money nor power can outwit. For a country living in extreme social inequality during the Porfirio Díaz dictatorship, the idea of the rich and poor alike one day rubbing elbows (if only bone to bone) was aVracHve to the masses. Create a Ven Diagram Compare & contrast Halloween &Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Halloween Scare evil spirits october Dia de los Muertos November Mexican celebraHon Day of the Dead Project *Gain an appreciaHon for the Mexican Holiday Dia de Los Muertos. *Learn about and study the art work of Jose Poasada. • Learn about human anatomy and the human skeleton. *Develop problem solving skills in designing a picture using the skeleton form, conveying a message. *Use elements and principal of art to enhance the picture. *Write a reflecHon about your picture and the message it is trying to convey Skeletons in MoHon •  Choice #1-­‐ Create a picture in the style of Jose Posada. The Students will create a drawing in the style of Jose Posada that uses current subject maVer to create a message (this can be social, poliHcal, environmental, etc.) •  Choice #2-­‐Create a picture of someone you know who has died. This can be a relaHve or a friend. Show that person as a skeleton doing an acHvity that they enjoyed doing while alive. Draw a Calavera Make fun of a profession or sport.
Criteria • Portray the human skeleton using correct proporHons • The skeleton should be showing some type of movement • Choice #1-­‐ Create a picture in the style of Jose Posada (creaHng a message you are going to portray) • Choice #2-­‐Create a picture about someone you know that has died. This can be a relaHve or a friend. *Use a monochromaHc color scheme with values on your skeleton • Use color in your background to enhance your picture Process 1.  Plan-­‐ Create 3 thumbnail sketches involving skeletons in moHon. 2. Evaluate-­‐ Choose your favorite thumbnail sketch, write about what it is you are trying to portray in your picture. Discuss what worked well and what you would change. 4.  Project Draw the picture on 9x12 paper using light pencil lines. 5.  Color your picture. Use a monochromaHc color scheme on your skeleton. Use color in the background to make your picture visually aVracHve. 6. Evaluate/rubric-­‐ Write a wriVen reflecHon about your picture and the message it is trying to convey.