José Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913) was a Mexican printmaker most known for his calavera illustrations. His works often depicted political and cultural techniques and influenced a lot of Latin American artists due to it's satirical tone. Posada was one of eight children in his family and was educated by his older brother. When he was a teen, he apprenticed under Jose Trinidad Pedroza, who taught him lithography and engraving. His career began in 1871, when he started working as a political cartoonist for the local newspaper called El Jicote in Aguascalientes. The newspaper closed shortly after 11 issues due to one of Posada's cartoons offending a powerful local politician. The following year, Posada and Pedroza started working in commercial lithography in León, Guanajuato, where Posada would open his own workshop and worked as a lithography teacher at a local secondary school. in 1873, Posada returned to his hometown and would purchase the printing press from Pedroza in 1875. He would continue to collaborate with several newspapers in León from 1875-1888. He also survived the great flood of León on June 18, 1888 and produced several lithographs depicting the tragedy. Posada would move to Mexico City by the end of 1888, where he would learn engraving in lead and zinc. He passed away in 1913 due to gastroenteritis penniless and was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave.Antonio Vanegas Arroyo (1850-1917) was a Mexican printer and publisher who ran a printing house most known for producing publications of calaveras illustrated by José Guadalupe Posada. The press he ran was active from 1880 until the 1940s.
