For Teaching Them to Read 1943

"For Teaching Them to Read" (1943) is a woodcut by Mexican artist Leopoldo Méndez. It depicts a group of people, their faces hidden behind masks, gathered around a young man holding a book and a fallen chair. The scene portrays an act of violence or intimidation against the young man, highlighting the obstacles faced by those seeking education. The bold, graphic lines of the woodcut convey a sense of urgency and desperation, reflecting the social and political realities of Mexico during the 1940s.