Oaxacan graphics became during the last decades one of the main artistic references of our country. This creative work is nourished by traditions, worldviews, social struggles and a deep sense of community.
Rufino Tamayo and Francisco Toledo They were two of the greatest exponents and promoters of Oaxacan engraving. By virtue of their work as artists, many generations of youths keep this artistic tradition alive.
Origins of the Oaxacan graphic
The engraving technique arose in the 8th century, in ancient China, which was used to a greater extent for printing books.
The artistic process became popular in much of Europe during the 15th century. Similarly, the The main objective of the engraving was the transmission of knowledge and informationreason why the engravers dedicated themselves to the printing of books.
The engraving technique arrived in our country during the viceroyalty, when different books arrived at what was then the New Spain.
Techniques
During the viceroyalty, xylography (engraving on wood) and chalcography (engraving on metal) were the most common graphic processes.
Later, thanks to the arrival of the Italian Claudio Linati In our country, during the 19th century, the technique of lithograph (stone engraving). This artist founded the publication known as “iri“, which set the precedents in the world of newspapers and publications.
With the passage of time, lithography forged a path within the propagation of ideas that were transmitted through pamphlets. It is at this point that these publications became instruments of both social criticism as political.
After a few years of development, the ironic character of the messages that were transmitted through the cartoon gave it great strength. It is during this period that the skulls created by Jose Guadalupe Posada and Manuel Manilla.
Engraving gained even more strength in the 20th century with the appearance of linoleum, since being a noble and accessible material allowed the development of new aesthetic and technical processes and interests.
Strength of the Oaxacan graphic
Many artists applied the technique of engraving in their prints to spread ideas that had to do with social struggles in the country.
The Popular Graphics Workshopwhich was founded in 1937 by Leopoldo Méndez, Luis Arenal Bastar and Pablo O’Higginsis one of the main references in the history of the national graph.
Do you want to know the history of the Taller de Gráfica Popular? Here we tell you
Subsequently, Oaxaca would become one of the main hotbeds of engravers and recorders in our country. This is due to the various workshops that promote engraving, among other techniques for artistic creation.
Francisco Toledo, who passed away in 2019, tHe worked hard to establish community spaces in which young people from the rural areas of Oaxaca could develop artistic expression. For this reason he created the Institute of Graphic Arts of Oaxaca (IAGO).
He Rufino Tamayo Plastic Arts Workshop, which was founded at the beginning of the 70s, is another of the main seedbeds of Oaxacan graphic artists.
women in engraving
Despite the fact that in the history of engraving in our country much emphasis is placed on the work of male artists, it is important to note that many women also developed this art.
Some of the recorders that stand out in our country are:
- Soledad Vasquez, Dulce Aquino.
- Beatriz Rivas Palacio.
- Edith Chavez.
- Yoshi Nakagawa.
- Daniela Ramirez.
- Gabriela Morac.
- Evelyn Vazquez.
- Algeria Matus.
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