Ernesto Garcia Cabral (Mexican Poster illustrator)

Ernesto García Cabral (1890–1968), often called “El Chango” Cabral, was one of Mexico’s most influential illustrators, caricaturists, and poster artists. Trained in Paris during the early 20th century, Cabral brought European Art Deco and avant-garde sensibilities to Mexican visual culture, blending elegance with wit and social commentary. His prolific career spanned newspapers, magazines, and film, where his dynamic compositions and refined linework defined the look of Mexican movie posters in the 1930s and 1940s. Renowned for his stylized portraits, vibrant color palettes, and sophisticated sense of movement, Cabral elevated popular illustration into fine art. Today, his work stands as a cornerstone of Latin American graphic design—bridging political satire, cinema, and modernist aesthetics with a uniquely Mexican identity.