The tall silhouette of an agave plant graces the card marked as number 11, in Marina Pallares' original interpretation of the Mexican lotería. In pre-Hispanic Mexico, the agave was regarded as a deity who gave her people that precious and once sacred drink, the tequila. Mexico's lotería game is a unique version of the classic bingo featuring traditional Mexican images. The loteria made its appearance in the second half of the 18th century, and it is still a favorite at schools, fairs, carnivals and festivals. I grew up in Jalisco, known for the production of tequila from agave plants, and as a child I used to play lotería all the time. These two facts inspired me to create the 'Tequila Lotto' series, confides Pallares, who credits the influence of Leopoldo Méndez and José Guadalupe Posada in her work. She masters aquafortis and aquatint etching techniques to create this eloquent composition. Titled Loteria tequilera in Spanish
