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Legal information about the decorative image: © Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut, Foto: Thomas Imo
Legal information about the decorative image: © Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut, Foto: Thomas Imo

Art Prints and Illustrations Archive

The Art Prints and Illustrations Archive contains around 2.760 high-quality prints from Latin America. The focus is on Mexico. The Estampas de la Independencia y la Revolución, the prints of the Taller de Gráfica Popular and the José Guadalupe Posada collection are the most important.

Estampas de la Independencia y la Revolución

On the occasion of Mexico's 200th anniversary of independence and the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution in 2010, the Museo Nacional de la Estampa (MUNAE) del Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes (INBA) from Mexico has donated 52 prints to the Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut (IAI). These are commissioned works by renowned artists such as Helen Escobedo, Leonora Carrington, Fernando Aceves Humana and Roberto Turnbull. They deal with the theme of freedom in woodcuts, lithographs, etchings and a sculpture.

Exhibition catalog (external link, opens in a new window)

Taller de Gráfica Popular (TGP)

This artists' collective, which was founded in Mexico in 1937, made an important contribution to popularizing social revolutionary goals and criticizing fascism. It produced over 3.000 posters, leaflets and illustrations using the woodcut and linocut technique. The Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut (IAI) owns around 250 of these works (period 1937-1977). This collection is constantly being expanded.

Exhibition catalog (external link, opens in a new window)

Mexican prints

José Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913) criticized the Mexican upper class and the government of Porfirio Díaz (1830-1915) with his political prints. His best-known works include the calaveras, satirical depictions with skeleton motifs. Posada was regarded as an artist of the people and was disregarded by academic circles. He was only rediscovered by Diego Rivera (1886-1957). The graphic collection of the IAI contains over 700 works.

Digitized Mexican prints (external link, opens in a new window)

Conditions and contact

Conditions of use

The graphics cannot be borrowed. To request the desired materials, you must fill out the online form and make an appointment with one of the contact persons.

Consultation hours

Monday: 2 - 4 p.m
Tuesday: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m
Wednesday: 3 - 5 p.m. 
Thursday: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m
Friday: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m

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