The American Mosquito c. 19th century

Curator: What strikes me immediately about this woodcut is the frantic energy, a sense of chaotic flight conveyed through these stark black and white contrasts. Editor: Precisely! This is "The American Mosquito" by José Guadalupe Posada, from the collection of the Harvard Art Museums. Posada was a hugely influential Mexican printmaker. Curator: The figures are all so clearly delineated, yet their forms feel almost like silhouettes, running from unseen forces. Are those mosquitoes represented as dark, winged shapes? Editor: Indeed. They're depicted larger than life, symbols of annoyance, perhaps even broader social and political critiques disguised as mere pests. Note how the attire of these figures suggests class distinctions. Curator: So this wasn't just about insects, but perhaps about social inequalities, or even foreign interventions, portrayed through the metaphor of a mosquito plague? The visual language is striking. Editor: Exactly. Posada used powerful, accessible imagery to comment on the societal anxieties of his time, leaving a lasting legacy on Mexican art and political expression. It's more than just a pesky mosquito.