Mexican People: 12 Original Signed Lithographs by artists of the Taller de Gráfica Popular, Mexico City
Published 1946, Associated American Artists, New York (in collaboration with the Taller de Gráfica Popular and La Estampa Mexicana, Mexico City)
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Description: 12 lithographs (10 in black and white; 2 in color) by 10 members of the Taller de Gráfica Popular. 12 loose plates in portfolio cover (cloth boards) with index sheet and map. Méndez contributed the drawing for the portfolio cover and one of the 12 lithographs.
Date: 1946 (printed), 1947 (published)
Dimensions (cm): 38.5 x 44.8 (15 3/16 x 17 5/8 in.) (each plate)
Published edition: 250 of complete portfolio. At least 1,700 of each individual print. See commentary, below.
Signature and annotations: Impressions are signed in graphite, lower right.
Principal references: Prignitz 604-616. (print by Mendez: Prignitz 606)
Selected additional references (illustrated): Monsiváis et al. 2002, 103 (gouache study for portfolio cover)
Cataloging note: Edition impressions were printed on "cartulina Marquilla de 65 kilos." Sheet dimensions of hand-pulled proofs: 12 7/8 x 17 1/4 in.
Contents (includes the following print by Méndez): Grinding Maize
Commentary: Originally conceived in concert with the Council for Pan-American Democracy, a left-wing organization in New York, the Mexican People project was completed with Reeves Lewenthal of Associated American Artists. Lewenthal commissioned 1500 copies each of 12 prints, 10 in black and two in color. José Sánchez pulled a small number of proofs at the TGP, after which the stones were sent to the American Book and Printing Co. in Mexico City to print the edition. Over 1700 copies were printed of each print in the portfolio (and in one case, as many as 1842). 1500 of each were sent to the AAA in New York, and the remainder were retained by the TGP or La Estampa Mexicana. Méndez also designed the portfolio cover, which was printed commercially in New York. Because the AAA only printed 250 copies of the cover and thus only issued 250 copies of the complete edition, many sources erroneously give that as the number of copies printed of each image. Later, the AAA printed a less elaborate cover with the title Mexican Art, A Portfolio of Mexican People and Places, containing only the 10 black and white prints. The cover was printed on light cardstock and included a detail from Méndez's original cover illustration. An unknown number of copies of that edition was released. The AAA also sold the prints individually. (Deborah Caplow and Peter Schneider)
Comentario: Concebido originalmente en colaboración con el Council for Pan-American Democracy, una organización izquierdista con sede en Nueva York, el proyecto Mexican People se completó con Reeves Lewenthal, de la editorial Associated American Artists. Lewenthal encargó 1500 copias de cada una de las 12 láminas, 10 en blanco y negro y dos en color. José Sánchez realizó un pequeño número de pruebas en el TGP, tras lo cual las piedras se enviaron a la American Book and Printing Co. en la Ciudad de México para imprimir la edición. Se imprimieron más de 1700 copias de cada grabado del portafolio (y en un caso, hasta 1842). Se enviaron 1500 de cada una a la AAA en Nueva York, y el resto quedó en manos del TGP o La Estampa Mexicana. Méndez también diseñó la portada de la carpeta, que se imprimió en una imprenta comercial en Nueva York. Debido a que la AAA solo imprimió 250 copias de la portada y, por lo tanto, solo publicó 250 copias de la edición completa, muchas fuentes indican erróneamente que ese es el número de copias de cada imagen. Más tarde, la AAA imprimió una portada menos elaborada con el título Mexican Art, A Portfolio of Mexican People and Places, que contenía solo las 10 láminas en blanco y negro. La portada se imprimió en cartulina ligera e incluía un detalle de la ilustración de la portada original de Méndez. Se publicó un número desconocido de ejemplares de esa edición. La AAA también vendió los grabados en hojas sueltas. (Deborah Caplow y Peter Schneider)
Catalogue record number: 310
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