An eagle resting on a cactus holding a snake in its beak (from the Mexican coat of arms) 1900 - 1910

Here we have an anonymous print of the Mexican coat of arms depicting an eagle resting on a cactus and holding a snake in its beak, rendered in ink. The way this image is constructed, it's all about the interplay of light and shadow, isn’t it? The artist uses these intricate, etched lines to create the textures of the eagle's feathers, the scales of the snake, and the spiky surface of the cactus. It's a study in contrasts. I am particularly drawn to the head of the eagle. See the way the artist uses dense, overlapping lines to create the impression of a sharp, piercing gaze? It’s really something. You can almost feel the weight of the symbol here; that the artist has not laboured over every detail to bring it to life. Thinking about other artists who play with similar themes of national identity and symbolism, Diego Rivera comes to mind. But what’s cool about this anonymous piece is that it opens up a space for all sorts of interpretation. It reminds us that art is an ongoing conversation, with artists building on and responding to each other's ideas.