The artwork, titled “Ballad of San Juan De Ulúa,” is created by the artist Jose Guadalupe Posada and belongs to the art movement known as Modernismo. The genre of this piece is caricature.
In this artwork, Posada masterfully employs stark contrasts and exaggerated features characteristic of caricature to depict a dramatic maritime scene. The central figure, a man in mid-fall towards a tempestuous sea, conveys a sense of urgency and peril. To the left, two figures, clad in hats and exhibiting alarmed expressions, reach out futilely, perhaps calling out or attempting to rescue the falling man. The grim presence of looming waves suggests the treacherous nature of the waters below. The architectural element, likely part of a ship or pier, adds to the tension of the scene, framing the narrative with a sense of impending doom. Posada’s use of bold lines and meticulous detail accentuates the dynamic movement and emotional intensity, encapsulating the viewer in the unfolding drama.
