This exhibit curates 7 drawings by Francisco Huerta (unk-1943) published in Frente Popular in 1938 and a reprint from Bombas de Mano published in the periodical España Libre (1939-1977 Free Spain) in 1943. His drawings depicted images of the war. Huerta repeatedly painted dark eyes to portray the suffering people.
Huerta also illustrated Lirón's Bombas de Mano (Hand grenades), a collection of satirical poems that mocked fascists and antifascists, also published by the Sociedades Hispanas Confederadas (SHC) in 1938. On May 21, 1943, Huerta helped Juan Eugenio Domingo Mingorance paint two murals for the headquarters of the Ateneo Hispano de Nueva York. One of them, “Éxodo”, depicts refugees walking toward France.
Huerta was an actor and stage designer in the SHC's antifascist plays. He participated in the plays listed below:
In Sept. 1936, Ignacio Zugadi Garmendia’s ¡Milicianos al Frente! (Militiamen to the Front!). This farcical play is situated in the mountains of Guadarrama. A militiaman enunciates the reason for defending the Republic. Atilano in his house in a working-class Madrid thinks that people should fight instead to have the state dismantled. Leocadia takes a rifle and goes to fight against Fascism.
In Oct. 1943, Ignacio Zugadi Garmendia's Hombres y Mujeres (Men and Women), a Comedy with 3 acts about politicians in an imaginary country. The play shows their ambitions and contradictions.
Huerta was a member of the Ateneo Hispano de Nueva York. When he died on March 24, 1944, the Ateneo began a collection to pay for his funeral. His friend, Sebastian Palmer, wrote Huerta's obituary in España Libre. Palmer remembered him as the actor and stage designer of the Ateneo in the 1920s and later the SHC. Huerta was a cartoonist and contributor to many worker periodicals. He lived in a rented room in Columbia Heights, in Brooklyn.
Iron for Shelters
Announcement for the members of the Confederated Hispanic Societies (CHS) to donate iron for the Spanish Civil War shelters in the Republican zone. Iron will be sent to Spain in the campaign "American Relief Ship for Spain."
The Soldier’s Worries
A big drawing of a militiaman in the background protects two young boys sitting at the front of the drawing. The caption says "The soldier's worries: the homeland and the family ... Let's help him."
Solidarity
A woman is breastfeeding a baby. In the background, her town has been destroyed by the Spanish Civil War.
The Farewell
A woman embraces a militiaman. Her eyes are closed.
Little Girl
A little girl has been killed by Stukas' bombs and her body lies next to a Spanish history book. The caption says, "Eternal Scenes from people who suffer.
Child Protection
A woman protects a little girl as the ghost of fascism goes toward them. Militiamen fight in trenches in the background.
Franco’s Equestrian Statue
Franco is holding a half-moon, which symbolizes his Moorish Guard. Instead of a horse, he is sitting on a pile of donkey manure. The drawing was first published in Bombas de mano (1938) to illustrate a satirical poem mocking Franco