Broadsheet relating to 'la Tarasca' (the carnival monster) 1897

This anonymous broadsheet relating to ‘la Tarasca’ was printed in Mexico, presumably in 1897, using relief printmaking techniques. The image shows the Tarasca, a mythical beast often paraded in Corpus Christi celebrations, especially in colonial contexts like Mexico. The accompanying text, in Spanish, suggests a satirical or critical commentary related to local events or figures. The broadsheet format itself was a common medium for disseminating information and opinions, often reaching a wide audience across social classes. Its visual and textual content point to a society grappling with its own identity. To understand this image better, we would want to research Mexican printmaking traditions, Corpus Christi celebrations in Mexico, and the historical context of late 19th-century Mexico. Such research emphasizes how art is embedded in specific social and institutional contexts.