Manuel Manilla

Manuel Manilla was an artist and printmaker active during the first half of the nineteenth century, with known works dating to the period between 1800 and 1850. He focused primarily on creating prints that addressed popular culture and social commentary.

Manilla’s known body of work often satirized domestic life and popular publishing trends. Prominent subjects include social satire, as evidenced by titles such as My Old Mother-in-Law is Always Ready to Scold without Any Reason and Con las suegras, poco y bueno (With the Mother-in-Laws, Little and Good). He also contributed to the tradition of Calavera illustration, notably with the print La Calavera de D. Juan Tenorio. Other documented prints, such as El cancionero popular, hoja num. 19 (The Popular Songbook, Sheet No. 19), indicate his engagement with contemporary popular materials and serial publications.

Fifteen of Manuel Manilla's prints are represented in major institutional holdings, establishing his position within 19th-century printmaking. His work is held in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago. Given the age and nature of these pieces, many of Manilla’s museum-quality prints have entered the public domain, offering access to high-quality prints and downloadable artwork derived from the originals.