El Iris

El Iris was an illustrated periodical published in Mexico between February and August 1826, during the early years of the newly independent Mexican republic. Although it was conceived in part as a literary and cultural review, the publication also became an important forum for political argument, reformist opinion, and visual satire. Its subject matter included poetry, theater, Mexican customs, fashion, biographies, legal and social cases, and portraits of figures associated with Mexico’s recent war of independence. The magazine was particularly notable for addressing women readers and for combining literary content with lithographic illustrations. The periodical was established by the Italian artists Claudio Linati and Florencio Galli together with the Cuban poet José María Heredia y Heredia. All three founders had transnational political and artistic backgrounds. Linati and Galli had participated in unsuccessful Italian liberal and nationalist movements before moving through Europe and eventually traveling to Mexico. Heredia, from Santiago de Cuba, had been involved in Cuban independence activity and later relocated to Mexico after a period in the United States. Their experiences shaped the publication’s reformist and strongly political character. Linati established a printing workshop in Mexico City at Calle de San Agustín number 15 in January 1826. The facility had separate presses for ordinary type and lithographic work, enabling El Iris to combine text with engraved and lithographed images. An announcement in the newspaper El Águila on 13 January 1826 presented the proposed publication as a pleasant diversion for readers interested in literature, with particular appeal to women. The first issue appeared on 4 February 1826 in a compact format of approximately 14 by 18 centimeters. It was initially issued weekly and later appeared twice a week. El Iris occupies a significant place in the history of Mexican print culture. Its first issue included Claudio Linati’s image “The Figurine,” depicting a woman in clothing inspired by the French republican style. The accompanying argument encouraged Mexican women to adopt simpler garments that would permit greater freedom of movement instead of traditional Spanish dress and the mantilla. The publication also printed portraits of independence leaders including Guadalupe Victoria, José María Morelos, and Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. An image of Hidalgo in issue 34, produced by Linati’s assistant José Gracida, is recognized as the first lithograph by a Mexican artist to appear in print. The magazine’s cultural mission was inseparable from its political views. Linati and Galli took positions in contemporary disputes between the Yorkino and Escocés factions, associated with rival Masonic and political groupings. El Iris generally favored the Yorkino emphasis on popular sovereignty and federalism, criticized excessive central authority, and argued for freedom of the press and broader civic education. It also expressed concern about the possibility of renewed Spanish intervention and criticized the influence of the military and clergy in national affairs. The periodical published “La Tiranía” (“Tyranny”), attributed to Linati and commonly regarded as Mexico’s first political cartoon. Political controversy ultimately limited the publication’s life. Heredia resigned as editor on 21 June 1826, apparently following ideological disagreements with the two Italian editors. El Iris ceased publication after forty issues, with the final issue appearing on 2 August 1826. The political content contributed to the closure and to Linati’s departure from Mexico later in 1826. Despite its brief existence, El Iris helped establish a model for Mexican journals that used lithography, caricature, and illustrated commentary to address political and social questions.

El Iris emerged in Mexico during the formative period immediately following independence from Spain. Its founders brought together Italian artistic and political experience with Cuban literary and nationalist perspectives. Claudio Linati and Florencio Galli had participated in liberal and nationalist struggles in Italy and subsequently lived elsewhere in Europe before settling temporarily in Mexico. José María Heredia y Heredia, a Cuban poet associated with independence activity, arrived in Mexico in 1825 after spending time in the United States. Linati created a printing establishment in Mexico City in January 1826 at Calle de San Agustín number 15. The workshop had one press for type and another for lithography, allowing the new periodical to integrate written articles with images. A notice published in El Águila on 13 January advertised the journal as a literary diversion, especially for women. The first issue followed on 4 February 1826, measuring approximately 14 by 18 centimeters. Publication began on a weekly schedule and later increased to two issues per week. The magazine’s editorial scope was broad. It printed poetry, theater material, discussions of Mexican customs, biographies, legal or court-related subjects, and commentary on fashion. Its illustrations included images of antiquities, contemporary clothing, and portraits of independence leaders such as Guadalupe Victoria, José María Morelos, and Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. The opening issue featured Linati’s colored lithograph “The Figurine,” which presented a woman wearing clothing modeled on French republican fashion. Linati used the image and its accompanying discussion to promote less restrictive dress for Mexican women. Issue 34 included a lithographic portrait of Hidalgo made by José Gracida, who worked as Linati’s assistant; the image is regarded as the first lithograph by a Mexican artist published in the country. Although presented as a literary and illustrated review, El Iris was politically engaged. Linati and Galli became involved in conflicts between Yorkino and Escocés factions. Their position was broadly aligned with the Yorkinos: they defended popular sovereignty, federalism, freedom of the press, and civic education, while opposing concentrated central power and criticizing the political influence of the army and clergy. Linati also believed Spain might attempt to reconquer Mexico. These views gave the journal a more openly interventionist character than its initial literary framing suggested. The publication’s most famous political image was “La Tiranía,” or “Tyranny,” attributed to Linati. It is commonly described as the first political cartoon published in Mexico and helped establish the use of lithographic satire as a means of addressing public affairs. The editors’ political writing generated opposition and controversy. Heredia resigned on 21 June 1826, apparently because of disagreements with the Italian editors over ideology. The journal continued for a short period but ended after forty issues, the last dated 2 August 1826. The political disputes surrounding the publication contributed to its closure and to Linati’s departure from Mexico later that year. El Iris was therefore short-lived but influential. It connected literature, fashion, visual art, and political argument in a period when Mexican publishing institutions were still developing. Its use of lithography, portraiture, and political caricature provided a model for later illustrated Mexican journals and satirical publications.

• 1826

  Mexico City printing workshop established

  [1]El Irisen.wikipedia.org

  Linati opened a printing shop at Calle de San Agustín number 15 with separate type and lithographic presses.

• 1826

  First issue published

  [1]El Irisen.wikipedia.org

  The inaugural issue appeared on 4 February as a compact illustrated review initially published weekly.

• 1826

  First colored lithograph in Mexico associated with the journal

  [1]El Irisen.wikipedia.org

  Linati’s “The Figurine,” printed in the first issue, is described as the first colored lithograph made in Mexico.

• 1826

  First Mexican political cartoon published

  [1]El Irisen.wikipedia.org

  El Iris printed “La Tiranía” (“Tyranny”), attributed to Linati and generally considered Mexico’s first political cartoon.

• 1826

  Heredia resigns as editor

  [1]El Irisen.wikipedia.org

  José María Heredia y Heredia left the editorial group on 21 June, reportedly because of ideological disagreements.

• 1826

  Publication closes

  [1]El Irisen.wikipedia.org

  The fortieth and final issue appeared on 2 August 1826 after political controversy surrounding the journal.

• 1825

  Founders arrive in Mexico

  [1]El Irisen.wikipedia.org

  Florencio Galli and Claudio Linati reached Mexico as they pursued artistic and political projects, while José María Heredia y Heredia arrived after being invited by President Guadalupe Victoria.

An illustrated literary review aimed especially at women readers that combined cultural coverage with liberal, federalist, and reform-oriented political commentary.

• Illustrated literary and political journal · 1826

  El Iris periodical

  The journal combined literary writing, theater and poetry coverage, commentary on Mexican customs, fashion discussion, biographies, court-related material, and political editorials. It was designed as an attractive illustrated publication for readers interested in letters, with particular attention to women. Its use of lithography distinguished it from a conventional text-only newspaper.

• Visual publishing · 1826

  Lithographic illustrations

  El Iris published portraits, images of antiquities, fashion illustrations, and politically charged visual material. Notable examples included Linati’s “The Figurine,” portraits of Mexican independence leaders, and José Gracida’s lithographic portrait of Miguel Hidalgo.

• 1826

  Adopt an illustrated, women-oriented literary formatStrategy

  Background

  The founders introduced El Iris as a pleasant literary diversion, with particular appeal to women readers, while operating a workshop capable of producing both text and lithographs.

  Action taken

  The journal combined poetry, theater, fashion, cultural subjects, and biographies with lithographic illustrations and portraits.

  Aftermath

  This combination made El Iris an early example of illustrated Mexican periodical publishing and gave it a platform for broader social and political commentary.

  Source

• 1826

  Use the journal for liberal political advocacyStrategy

  Background

  Linati and Galli held radical political views and participated in disputes between Yorkino and Escocés factions in the new republic.

  Action taken

  El Iris advocated federalism, popular sovereignty, press freedom, and civic education while criticizing concentrated authority and the influence of the military and clergy.

  Aftermath

  The political content provoked controversy, contributed to the journal’s closure after forty issues, and was associated with Linati’s departure from Mexico.

  Source

1. 1El Irisen.wikipedia.org