Leopoldo Méndez

Leopoldo Méndez was one of Mexico's most important graphic artists and one of that country's most important artists from the 20th century. Méndez's work mostly focused on engraving for illustrations and other print work generally connected to his political and social activism. His most influential work was connected to organizations such as the Liga de Escritores y Artistas Revolucionarios and the Taller de Gráfica Popular creating propaganda related to the ideals of the Mexican Revolution and against the rise of Fascism in the 1930s. Despite his importance in 20th-century artistic and political circles, Méndez was a relatively obscure figure during his lifetime. The reasons for this generally relate to the fact that he believed in working collaboratively and anonymously for the good of society rather than for monetary gain and because the socialist and communist themes of his work fell out of favor with later generations. He has received posthumous recognition with a major biography, and scholarship considers him to be the heir to graphic artist José Guadalupe Posada.

Works in Collection

137 works

"Matanza de Campesinos y Maestros en San Felipe Torres Mo...

Leopoldo Méndez

1939

25 Prints of Leopoldo Méndez

Leopoldo Méndez

1943

A Cloud (Una nube)

Leopoldo Méndez

1931

All the Land for the Peasants. Zapata. (Toda la Tierra pa...

Leopoldo Méndez

1938

Allá por la llanura (in-text plate, page 20) from the ill...

Leopoldo Méndez

1944

Amigo jabalí (in-text plate, page 21) from the illustrate...

Leopoldo Méndez

1944

An Accident (Accidente) from the portfolio 25 Prints of L...

Leopoldo Méndez

plate 1934, portfolio published 1943

Archisterium

Leopoldo Méndez

1932

Ballad of Don Chapulín [1] (Corrido de Don Chapulín [1])

Leopoldo Méndez

1940

Book Cover (Portada de un Libro) from the portfolio 25 Pr...

Leopoldo Méndez

1943

Brickmaker

Leopoldo Méndez

1931

Brincos del zopilote borracho (in-text plate, page 51) fr...

Leopoldo Méndez

1944

Capture of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas

Leopoldo Méndez

1931

Charge of the Revolutionist Cavalry

Leopoldo Méndez

1931

Chicle Gatherer (Chiclero) from the portfolio 25 Prints o...

Leopoldo Méndez

plate 1937, portfolio published 1943

Chiclero

Leopoldo Méndez

1937

Construction

Leopoldo Méndez

1931

Construction

Leopoldo Méndez

1931

Dance of Death II (Danza de la muerte II), plate 17, from...

Leopoldo Méndez

printed 1944, published 1945

Dance of Death, I (Danza de la muerte, I), plate 12, from...

Leopoldo Méndez

printed 1944, published 1945

Dancing under the Plum Tree (Danza a pie del ciruelo), pl...

Leopoldo Méndez

printed 1944, published 1945

Danza al pie del círculo (in-text plate, page 44) from th...

Leopoldo Méndez

1944

Danza de la muerte I (in-text plate, page 43) from the il...

Leopoldo Méndez

1944

Danza de la muerte II (in-text plate, page 48) from the i...

Leopoldo Méndez

1944

Exhibitions

11 exhibitions

May 15, 1940 – Sep 30, 1940

Twenty Centuries of Mexican Art

53 artists · 2 curators

Mar 31, 1943 – Jun 06, 1943

The Latin-American Collection of the Museum of Modern Art

154 artists · 1 curator

May 10, 1949 – Jul 10, 1949

Master Prints from the Museum Collection

132 artists · 2 curators

Sep 08, 1954 – Nov 28, 1954

American Prints of the 20th Century

111 artists · 1 curator

Dec 14, 1960 – Feb 23, 1961

Film Posters

28 artists · 1 curator

Dec 21, 1960 – Feb 05, 1961

Recent Acquisitions

222 artists · 3 curators

Jul 01, 1971 – Sep 27, 1971

The Artist as Adversary

140 artists · 1 curator

Sep 07, 1971 – Nov 30, 1971

Photographs of Women

33 artists · 1 curator

Mar 16, 1978 – Jul 02, 1978

Mexican Art

25 artists · 2 curators

Nov 14, 1979 – Jan 22, 1980

Art of the Twenties

167 artists · 1 curator

Mar 03, 1983 – May 15, 1983

Prints from Blocks: Gauguin to Now

128 artists · 1 curator