25 prints of Leopoldo Méndez

Published 1943, La Estampa Mexicana, Mexico City

Description: 25 loose plates in portfolio cover (printed tan burlap boards with ribbon closure). Plates are hand-pulled impressions of previously published prints by Méndez.

Date: 1943

Dimensions: 27.6 x 23.0 cm. (portfolio cover); 24.3 x 19.0 cm. (each plate; with minor variations)

Variants: The cover was also issued with the title printed in black ink with added text below: “MEXICO / DF.” At least one copy was made with a blank cover.

Published edition: 100 copies, numbered inside portfolio cover (50 of those on China paper, described as “special imported chinese stock”); 3 unnumbered copies. 

Signature and annotations: Impressions are signed in graphite, lower right, and annotated in graphite with the number in the series, usually lower right.  Portfolios are numbered in ink, inside front cover.

Principal references: Prignitz 402-426

Selected additional references (illustrated): Prignitz-Poda 2018, ch. 5

Selected public collections: Blanton; BM; LOC; MFAB; NGA; RISD

Contents:

  1. Sudor de sangre 

  2. Sueño de los pobres 

  3. Jinetes 

  4. Casateniente 

  5. Concierto de locos 

  6. El “Juan”  

  7. Accidente 

  8. Concierto sinfónico de calaveras 

  9. Establero 

  10. El preso  

  11. Papeleros 

  12. Mitin improvisado 

  13. Ilustración para un corrido  [El machete y el mazo]

  14. Niñas tejedoras 

  15. Chiclero  

  16. El rayo 

  17. Juárez  

  18. El nido del buitre 

  19. Fachismo (1)  

  20. Fachismo (2) 

  21. La carta  

  22. Por enseñar a leer 

  23. Protesta 

  24. Portada de un libro [La séptima cruz]

  25. La venganza de los pueblos

Cataloging note: The impressions were printed by Alfredo Zalce, Max Kahn, Eleanor Coen, and José Sánchez (“Informe sobre la fundación de La Estampa Mexicana,” 1944, in TGP Records, box 1 folder 22). According to a biographical sketch prepared for the TGP in 1948 (TGP Records, box 4, folder 7), a second  edition was published in 1944, but no other information about the edition is available. It is likely a reference to a completely different portfolio, Méndez 25 prints. 

Nota de catalogación: Los grabados fueron impresos por Alfredo Zalce, Max Kahn, Eleanor Coen y José Sánchez (“Informe sobre la fundación de La Estampa Mexicana”, 1944, en TGP Records, box 1 folder 22). Según una reseña biográfica preparada para el TGP en 1948 (TGP Records, box 4, folder 7), en 1944 se editó una segunda edición, pero no se conoce más información al respecto. Probablemente se refiera a una carpeta completamente distinta, Méndez 25 prints.

Catalogue record number: 6