Existing comment:
Xavier Viramontes
born Richmond, California 1947
Boycott Grapes, Support the United Farm Workers Union
1973
offset lithograph on paper
Viramontes created Boycott Grapes, Support the United Farm Workers Union the year César Chávez initiated a new grape boycott in response to the Teamsters' violent intervention in disputes between the UFW and California growers. Viramontes was aware of the Teamsters' brutal tactics, which likely informed his imagery of a formidable Aztec warrior squeezing grapes that spew blood instead of juice. The artist suggested that the UFW sell the poster to support the boycott. While the union initially believed the blood symbolism was too graphic, they began selling the print via mail order through El Malcriado, the UFW newspaper.
Gift of Tomás Ybarra-Frausto, 1995.50.58 |