Homenaje a Leopoldo Mendez: Contra la Benedicion del Poder Nuclear

 

Emmanuel C. Montoya

  1952 - PRESENT (biography)

1987  

linocut 

15 x 23 7/8" image size 

pencil, lower right 

28 of 50  

pencil titled, dated, and editioned 

 

white laid 

published 

artist 

17552 

SOLD

The title of this linocut translates to 'Homage to 'Leopoldo Mendez: Against the Blessing of Nuclear Power' as Montoya, sitting in his studio, creates images of doves, which fly into the paths of the nuclear missiles.

In 1956 Mendez cut his famous linocut 'Homenaje a Posada' depicting another great Mexican printmaker, José Guadalupe Posada (1852 - 1913) working on a block in the print studio as chaos rages in the street with demonstrating peasants being attacked by the police. Montoya creates an homage to an homage with this image.

The artist has noted: "Notice the hand in the upper left-hand corner as it gestures in a "blessing" way to the nuclear arsenal that is aimed to annihilate. In the lower right hand corner is not Méndez, but me, the artist responding to the threat, just as Posada and Méndez did with their work."

This piece was created in 1987 for an exhibition at the INBA - National Museum of Fine Art, Mexico City celebrating the 50 anniversary of El Taller de Gráfica Popular co-founded by Leopoldo Méndez. My dear friend/colleague, TGP Member, noted historian, nationally awarded print-maker in Mexico, Alberto Beltran had personally invited me to participate."

Leopoldo Mendez may well be considered Mexico's most important 20th century graphic artist, and one of country's the most important artists from the 20th century. Méndez's work mostly focused on engraving for illustrations and other print work generally connected to his political and social activism. His most influential work was connected to organizations such as the Liga de Escritores y Artistas Revolucionarios and the Taller de Grafica Popular creating propaganda related to the ideals of the Mexican Revolution and against the rise of Fascism in the 1930s.