El Doctor Improvisado (The Quack Doctor) 1942

José Guadalupe Posada created "El Doctor Improvisado" as a woodcut and letterpress on paper, printed in Mexico. Posada was a hugely influential printmaker, whose work often engaged with the political and social issues of his time. This image brings together the themes of death and social critique, a trademark of Posada's work. He was active during a tumultuous period in Mexican history, marked by social inequality and political unrest. "El Doctor Improvisado" or “The Quack Doctor” depicts a skeleton, presumably representing death, in consultation with a dubious-looking doctor. The print critiques unqualified or unethical practitioners who exploit people's vulnerabilities. The skeleton here could also symbolize the state of the working classes in Mexico. Posada's prints reached a broad audience through their distribution in newspapers. His art fostered a sense of collective identity, offering both social commentary and an emotional outlet for a population facing hardship.