Posada’s Hall of Miscreants

Scroll through the images to see a selection of the sensational crimes illustrated by Posada.

 ¡Horrible asesinato! Espantoso parricidio!, Broadside relating to the horrible murder committed by Bernabe Manrique in the town of Zapotiltec, 1880–1913. Art Institute of Chicago, 1944.1000

¡Terrible y verdadera noticia!, Broadside relating to Norberta Reyes who murdered her parents in the town of Zapotiltec, 1910. Art Institute of Chicago, 1959.526

Lamentable y Espantoso Event, Broadside relating to Juan Ortiz who murdered his wife and his elderly father in the town of La Barca, State of Jalisco on December 4. Museo Nacional de la Estampa, Mexico City

A woman pouring lead into the ear of her sleeping husband, c. 1890–1910. Wood engraving. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 30.14.7 

Espantoso crimen nunca visto!, Broadsheet relating to the sensational story of a woman who was worse than wild animals, and sewed a girl’s clothing to her body, c. 1900–1910. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 46.46.116