Esperpentos 

José Luis Cuevas created this etching titled 'Esperpentos', whose date is currently unknown, using a combination of aquatint and etching techniques on paper. Cuevas was a Mexican artist known for challenging the heroic and nationalistic narratives prevalent in post-revolutionary Mexican art. 'Esperpentos' embodies his approach to art as a critical reflection of society. The composition features distorted figures in a dark, unsettling scene, evoking the grotesque. The term "esperpento" itself refers to a literary and artistic style that exaggerates the ugly and absurd aspects of reality to critique social norms. Cuevas once said, "I defend the right to draw anything, to paint anything, to sculpt anything." In this print, the distorted visages and the figure being hanged, create a powerful statement against repression, and the emotional toll of social injustice. 'Esperpentos' doesn't shy away from representing the darker sides of human existence. It serves as a reminder of the importance of confronting uncomfortable truths in the pursuit of social change.