The artwork titled “Street Cleaner Calavera,” created by Jose Guadalupe Posada in 1910, is a notable piece within the Modernismo art movement and belongs to the genre of caricature. It presents a vivid depiction highlighting societal themes through exaggerated and satirical illustrations.
The artwork features a detailed scene with skeletal figures, or “calaveras,” performing the duties of street cleaners. These calaveras are illustrated sweeping the streets, interacting with one another, and engaging in various activities typically associated with maintenance work. The surrounding text appears to be a humorous or critical commentary, likely reflecting on social or political issues. The use of skeletal imagery adds a macabre yet whimsical dimension, characteristic of Posada’s style, which often combined daily life vignettes with death-related motifs to provoke thought and amusement.