Goya, Posada, Chagoya: Three Generations of Satirists

Francisco Goya (Spanish, 1746–1828), José Guadalupe Posada (Mexican, 1852–1913), and Enrique Chagoya (American, born 1953) examine their respective cultures through printmaking to establish a visual dialogue about the shared human condition. Chagoya’s Homage to Goya II: Disasters of War (2003), a portfolio of ten etchings that draws on Goya’s eponymous series, is prominently featured. Chagoya reimagines the prints for contemporary audiences with visual references to precolonial mythology, Mexican culture, American politics, and pop culture. Posada was known for popular cartoons and illustrations printed in newspapers. His work provided early inspiration for Chagoya, who was born and raised in Mexico. The three artists are even depicted together in one of Chagoya’s prints.