"Guerrilleros Mexicanos"

Description:

This lithograph illustrates the chaos and conflict engulfing northern Mexico during the years of the Mexican-American War from 1846-1848. In these years the United States organized an Army of Occupation, initially led by General Zachary Taylor, to capture cities like Monterrey in preparation for a later assault on the Mexican heartland. The figure on horseback is a Mexican guerilla fighter. These skilled horsemen, often doubling as both patriots and bandits, had an established role in Mexican military tradition, and were actively recruited to combat the U.S. invaders. To understand his limited appeal to the Mexican public, note that the dead figures over whom the guerrillero is triumphantly galloping appear to be Mexican citizens, not invading American soldiers.

The lithographer is unknown.

Date Made: ca 1848

Maker: unknown

Description (Spanish): Esta litografía ilustra el caos y el conflicto que abrumaron al norte de México durante los años de la guerra mexicoamericana entre 1846 y 1848. En este período Estados Unidos organizó un Ejército de Ocupación, inicialmente comandado por el General Zachary Taylor, a fin de capturar ciudades como Monterrey, en preparación para la posterior ofensa al corazón de México. La figura a caballo es la de un guerrillero mexicano. Estos hábiles jinetes, que a menudo actuaban tanto de patriotas como de bandidos, tenían una función establecida dentro de la tradición militar mexicana y se los reclutaba activamente para combatir a los invasores estadounidenses. A fin de comprender el poco atractivo que estas figuras despertaban entre el público mexicano, obsérvese que los muertos sobre los que galopa triunfante el guerrillero parecen ser ciudadanos mexicanos y no soldados americanos invasores.Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: World

Subject: HorsesPatriotism and Patriotic SymbolsUniforms, MilitaryMexican War

Subject:

See more items in: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life, Government, Politics, and Reform, Cultures & Communities, Military, Mexican America, Art, Peters Prints, Domestic Furnishings

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: DL.60.2559Catalog Number: 60.2559Accession Number: 228146

Object Name: lithographObject Type: Lithograph

Physical Description: ink (overall material)paper (overall material)Measurements: image: 8 1/4 in x 12 1/2 in; 20.955 cm x 31.75 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a2-d9c5-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_324874

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