By: Juan Beltran

Medium: lithograph
Year: 1946
Image Size: 17.6" H x 15.1" W
Signature: Pencil, lower Right
Paper: Cream wove
Publisher: Taller de Grafica Popular

Juan Beltrán, a lesser-known but significant contributor to the Mexican graphic arts movement of the mid-20th century. Beltrán’s work aligns with the social realism prevalent among his contemporaries, focusing on the dignity of labor and the cultural traditions of rural Mexico.

This lithograph powerfully captures this ethos. It depicts laborers operating a traditional sugarcane press, powered by a mule turning a wooden mechanism. The physical strain of the workers is evident in their crouched postures and concentrated expressions, underscoring the arduous process of rural industry. The composition is grounded in diagonal lines and a rhythmic use of shadow that guides the viewer’s eye through the machine’s structure and the activity around it. Beltrán brings a quiet heroism to the scene, portraying the act of work as both culturally rooted and vital. Through lithography, he renders fine textures—from the coarse sugarcane to the woven roof of the mill—with a sensitivity that reflects both respect for his subjects and mastery of the medium.

Only available as a complete portfolio.