Day of the Dead Valentines

Valentine's Day is all about showing each other our love. At least that's what it symbolizes. In reality, however, it can be seen as nothing more than crass commercialism capitalizing on people's emotions.

In light of the times we find ourselves in, this Valentine's Day offers to show us the shadow side of our love. Ageism, racism, sexism, classism, nationalism, you name-it-ism. Here in the good ole USA, we got'em all.

Time for a revolution.

Time for Day of the Dead Valentines.

Enter Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada. Five of the valentines feature the work of Posada. He began his artistic career as a political cartoonist and within a few short years operated his own printing shop with a partner and friend.

By the time of the Mexican Revolution, Posada was well established as a political satirist. His work was often published in sensational broadsides advocating radical revolution. The calavera, Spanish for skull, became a common theme in much of his work. Perhaps his most famous calavera is Catrina, a beautiful woman in a large festive hat. She is more popular today than ever!

"Posada became the master and inspiration for many of the great Mexican artists of the mid-twentieth century. . . . [his] influence was enormous and many special publications were issued in which the exclusive use of the clavier provided the satirical comment on Mexican and international and social situations." (Moss, Jean. The Day of the Dead: a pictorial archive of Dia de los Muertos. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2010. Print.)

Start a revolution of your own with a set of Day of the Dead Valentines.

#valentines #cards #dayofthedead #diadelosmuertos