Alberto Beltrán
Mexican, 1923 - 2002El Trapiche de Azúcar (The Sugar Mill) from Mexican People portfolio, 1946
Not on view
Lithograph on paper
Dimensions15 1/4 × 17 5/8 in. (38.7 × 44.8 cm)
Image: 11 5/16 × 14 in. (28.7 × 35.6 cm)
Gift of Mr. Jack B. Pierson, 1987.31.5
Born March 22, 1923 in Mexico City, Beltrán’s father was a tailor. From 1928 to 1934, he worked for his father, while continuing to draw in his spare time. He soon began to attend night classes in commercial drawing at the San Carlos Academy. In 1938, he entered a commercial art studio. Beltrán also drew comic strips for newspapers, while furthering his education in engraving and etching.
For the portfolio introduction, Beltrán wrote:
"The farmers of the northern sierra of the state of Pueblo construct for themselves a primitive sugar-grinding machine they call a "tranche". To make a "tranche" only wood is used - there is not even one inch of metal. This primitive machine originated, to the best of our knowledge, during the Colonial era. In the process of refining sugar, beginning with cutting the cane, the entire family works. Frequently, during the cutting, families help each other. The low income possibilities of this crop, during the feudal-colonial era and even today has caused the farmers to produce no more than necessary for their own needs. For this reason these native farmers still use the antiquated sugar mill shown in the lithograph."
