Leopoldo Mendez - Grinding Maize Lithograph
Grinding Maize, an offset lithograph after plate 9 from Leopoldo Mendez's Mexican People series, framed and matted. A strong midcentury Mexican graphic image connected to the Taller de Grafica Popular and the 1946-47 American Associated Artists collaboration.
Snapshot
Artist: Leopoldo Méndez (Mexican, 1902–1969)
Title: Grinding Maize (Plate 9 from the Mexican People portfolio)
Medium: Photo-offset lithograph
Year of Creation: 1946–1947
Publisher: Associated American Artists (AAA), New York
Framed Dimensions: 22" H x 18 ¼" W x 1" D
Condition: Very Good / Excellent. Vibrant ink impression on paper. Housed in a vintage grey frame with custom white and peach matting. Frame shows very minor, superficial paint loss consistent with age. Ready for display.
Product Overview & History
This framed midcentury graphic work is an authentic offset lithograph of Grinding Maize by Leopoldo Méndez, a foundational figure of modern Mexican printmaking and co-founder of the celebrated Taller de Gráfica Popular (TGP).
This specific image was issued as Plate 9 of the historic Mexican People portfolio—a 12-print collaborative project organized in 1946–1947 alongside Reeves Lewenthal and the Associated American Artists. This landmark portfolio successfully introduced the powerful, socially conscious aesthetic of post-revolutionary Mexican graphic art to international collecting audiences.
Moving away from overt political propaganda, Grinding Maize captures an enduring, dignified scene of agrarian village life. Méndez utilizes a disciplined, modern composition to highlight ordinary figures processing corn within a rural architectural setting, emphasizing themes of community, labor, and daily survival.
Collector's Notes
For collectors of Latin American art, midcentury social realism, or fine prints from the Taller de Gráfica Popular, this piece offers an approachable and visually striking entry point into Méndez's oeuvre. While original linocuts from the portfolio command premium gallery prices, this high-quality period offset lithograph delivers the same graphic power, stark contrasts, and historical importance in a beautifully preserved, framed presentation.
Reference
Leopoldo Mendez and Grinding Maize: Art, Labor, and the Mexican Print Tradition
