Por Fingir Espantos (Frightened by a Ghost) 1942

Curator: Look at this wonderful engraving by José Guadalupe Posada, entitled "Por Fingir Espantos," or "Frightened by a Ghost," created in 1942. It’s a little print with a big story, held right here in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: My first thought is "chaos." It's so dense, almost claustrophobic with detail, and the exaggerated expressions add to the sense of total bewilderment! Curator: Posada often used these types of images in printed ephemera. Beyond the comical aesthetic, the piece would originally have circulated widely. Its availability ensured that it had significant influence over the public imagination regarding visual culture and societal norms. Editor: Do you think this little drama is specific to its era, or is it a timeless scenario? Because I could imagine this happening today. What's with the figure on the bed? He is pretending to be terrified as a ghost? Curator: More than a simple domestic spat, it resonates with established social and cultural codes of the era, I mean consider the bedchamber, an important psychological domain related to a certain kind of vulnerability. He presents us a window into understanding how emotion, gender roles, and theatricality combine into a really intriguing cultural script. Editor: That interplay feels central to Posada’s broader project – offering witty yet critical snapshots of Mexican society through everyday vignettes, if one can read it through the lens of popular culture and folk traditions. It makes us ponder what hasn’t changed over time, too, despite how historical it may be. Curator: Exactly. He offers symbols layered deep inside of Mexican society at the time, capturing so many stories within just this single image! It gives everyone a starting point to examine what remains from yesterday and perhaps understand where it may lead. Editor: Thinking about how prints are produced and disseminated helps unlock a wealth of meanings within an artwork often taken to be rather straightforward on its face, I find myself reflecting about the narrative elements as an interesting form of entertainment back in that day! It seems like Posada has captured more than just a story – it captures an epoch. Curator: I agree, these pieces encourage deeper thought as to both their art and meaning, revealing the importance of visual media in constructing cultural memory. It's such an enchanting lens through which we explore societal changes, isn’t it?