Fascism (2)
Date: c. 1934-36
Medium: Woodcut
Dimensions (cm.): 14.3 x 12.1
Alternate titles: Fascismo 2; Fascismo II; Fachismo en acción
Published edition:
Number of impressions unknown.
Reprinted in 1943 in portfolio 25 Prints of Leopoldo Méndez: 100 impressions in numbered portfolios, 50 of them on China paper (described as “special imported chinese stock”), plus 3 impressions in unnumbered portfolios. Each impression signed in graphite, lower right, and annotated 20, lower right corner of sheet. Sheet dimensions 24.4 x 19.2 cm.
Contemporary publication:
Revista Defensa roja
Frente a Frente 4 (julio 1936), p.21 (article by Archiles Vela, “La exposición de artes plásticas de la LEAR”).
References: Academia de Artes 1910; Méndez INBA 8; Included in Prignitz 402-426
Commentary: Fascism II is a variation of Fascism 1, likely depicting the same scene from a different angle, and as a chronological continuation of the event depicted in Fascism I. A member of the Camisas Doradas (the Gold Shirts) of the ARM (Revolutionary Mexicanist Action, Acción Revolucionaria Mexicanista) walks among the fallen bodies of the same unarmed workers as in Fascism I. The most prominent of the demonstrators, possibly the same worker who is being shot in the first print, lies on his banner, his body partially covering a hammer and sickle. His own hammer lies on the ground him, a visual correlative to the incomplete communist symbol on the flag. In the background, two men with clubs are savagely beating a woman who puts her hands over her face in defense. (Deborah Caplow)
Comentario: Fascismo II es una variación de Fascismo 1, probablamente representando la misma escena desde una perspectiva diferente, y como continuación cronológica del acontecimiento representado en Fascismo I. Un miembro de las Camisas Doradas de la ARM (Acción Revolucionaria Mexicanista) camina entre los cuerpos caídos de los mismos obreros desarmados que en Fascismo I. El más destacado de los manifestantes, posiblemente el mismo obrero al que disparan en la primera obra, yace sobre su pancarta, y su cuerpo cubre parcialmente una hoz y un martillo. Su propio martillo yace en el suelo, un correlato visual del símbolo comunista incompleto de la bandera. Al fondo, dos hombres con porras golpean salvajemente a una mujer que se tapa la cara con las manos en señal de defensa. (Deborah Caplow)
Catalogue record number: 34