Poster celebrating national teachers' day (15 May). In the upper section (yesteryear) a teacher falls back while a man on horseback points a pistol at him, and other at right carries a Cristero banner. In the lower section (now) a teacher instructs adults to read

Taller de Gráfica Popular|Alfredo Zalce

Ca. 1938–40 · Linocut on green paper, backed with linen · Drawings and Prints

Poster celebrating national teachers' day (15 May). In the upper section (yesteryear) a teacher falls back while a man on horseback points a pistol at him, and other at right carries a Cristero banner. In the lower section (now) a teacher instructs adults to read — Taller de Gráfica Popular|Alfredo Zalce

National Teachers’ Day is celebrated in Mexico every year on May 15. The title across the top of this poster refers to the historical struggle and sacrifice of educators. Labeled "yesterday," the upper image depicts the shooting of a rural schoolteacher during the Cristero Rebellion in the 1920s and 1930s. The bottom image, labeled "today," shows a female teacher safe in her classroom instructing adult women. The caption explains how teachers are steadily overcoming obstacles to their work. Cada año, el Día del Maestro se celebra en México el 15 de mayo. El título que atraviesa la parte superior del cartel alude a la lucha histórica y al sacrificio de los educadores. Con el rótulo «Ayer», la imagen superior representa a un maestro rural asesinado a tiros durante la guerra cristera en las décadas de 1920 y 1930. En la imagen inferior, titulada «Hoy», una maestra da clase a mujeres adultas en la seguridad de su aula. El subtítulo explica que los maestros están superando gradualmente los obstáculos que dificultaban su trabajo.

Artist: Taller de Gráfica Popular|Alfredo Zalce
Date: Ca. 1938–40
Medium: Linocut on green paper, backed with linen
Department: Drawings and Prints
Credit line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1946