Poster commemorating two dates: the liberation of Mexican farmers in 1919 during the revolution, and 1938, the anniversary of Mexican economic independence. A portrait of Emiliano Zapata dominates the poster

Alfredo Zalce|Cooperativa de Artes Gráficas, Mexico City

1938 · Offset lithograph, linocut, backed with linen · Drawings and Prints

Poster commemorating two dates: the liberation of Mexican farmers in 1919 during the revolution, and 1938, the anniversary of Mexican economic independence. A portrait of Emiliano Zapata dominates the poster — Alfredo Zalce|Cooperativa de Artes Gráficas, Mexico City

General Lázaro Cárdenas, a respected revolutionary, began his term as President of Mexico in 1934. With massive popular support and with the elites classes largely under control, Cárdenas pushed toward revolutionary goals, elaborating land-reform programs, nationalizing railways, placing them under the management of labor etc. His most spectacular action was the expropriation of foreign petroleum companies. The companies refused to accept the decisions against them, and on March 18, 1938 Cárdenas decreed expropriation of their holdings, thus nationalizing the petroleum industry. Mexicans consider March 18, 1938, the anniversary of their economic independence.

Artist: Alfredo Zalce|Cooperativa de Artes Gráficas, Mexico City
Date: 1938
Medium: Offset lithograph, linocut, backed with linen
Department: Drawings and Prints
Credit line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1946