The artwork titled “Alcoholic Calavera,” created by the esteemed artist Jose Guadalupe Posada in 1888, belongs to the ‘Modernismo’ art movement and falls within the genre of caricature.
The artwork portrays two skeletal figures, known as calaveras, which are intricately illustrated in a scene that evokes both satire and social commentary. One calavera, garbed in a formal suit and a wide-brimmed sombrero, is depicted seated at a table cluttered with various items, presumably indicative of indulgence, such as a bottle of tequila, a glass, and what appears to be food and playing cards. The calavera’s facial expression, albeit skeletal, suggests a state of inebriation or jovial carelessness. Beside this central figure, another smaller skeleton embraces the former, adding an element of camaraderie or communal inebriation. The detailed and meticulous line work accentuates the macabre yet whimsical nature typical of Posada’s style, reflecting themes of mortality, social vices, and the inescapable presence of death in everyday life.