Diego Rivera’s En El Arsenal, 1928.
Diego Rivera was probably the most influential painter in Mexican history. His large wall murals were a key factor in establishing the Mexican Mural Renaissance. His active Communist positions directly influenced his themes in his murals. Many dealt with his radical ideals. He became a controversial painter with his attacks on the church and had disputes with left-wing assassins. He was also married to another famous Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo. I chose this painting because of the characters and controversy behind it. Tina Modotti is holding an ammunition belt on the right. She was a famous actress/model in the early 1900′s but was also a revolutionary political activist. It also features Julio Antonio Mella, on the left, who was the founder of the Cuban Communist Party. Mella was allegedly assassinated by Vittorio Vidale who is in the painting as well. It was later speculated that Diego Rivera had prior knowledge in the death of Mella. This and his involvement with anti-Soviet politics resulted in his expulsion from the Mexican Communist Party. Aside from the story behind the painting, I really enjoy his use of colors and the intensity of the mood portrayed. His personal life, political ideals, and dramatic artwork featuring historical murals and folk tradition have influenced many of the people of the Americas. Diego Rivera died November 24, 1957 in Mexico City of heart failure.
cited
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_Rivera
- http://diegorivera.com/index.php
- http://www.fbuch.com/diego.htm
November 22, 2009 at 5:53 am
Diego Rivera did in fact display his own political stance in his paintings. Here is some more history on Rivera that you might find interesting. Rivera studied painting in Mexico before going to Europe in 1907. While in Europe he took up cubism and had exhibitions in Paris and Madrid in 1913; he then had a show in New York City in 1916. In 1921 he returned to Mexico, where he undertook government-sponsored murals that reflected his communist politics in historical contexts. Diego created much controversy over his paintings in both Mexico and the Untied States. His 1933 mural for the RCA Building at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan featured a portrait of Communist Party leader V.I. Lenin; the resulting uproar led to his dismissal and to the mural’s official destruction in 1934.
Thank you for your introduction and history of this great Mexican artist.
November 24, 2009 at 10:14 am
After reading your interpretation makes me think about how much Rivera knew, if anything about the assassination. Deeper meaning than what I saw when I was just looking at the piece. This piece seems interesting to me because of the art work and then the story behind it and the controversy about. Thanks for sharing such an interesting piece of Mexican art.