Title: The Mexican Renaissance | Boundless Art History
Headings: The Mexican Renaissance
The Mexican Renaissance
Mexican Muralism
Learning Objectives
Key Takeaways
Key Points
Key Terms
Mexican Muralism
Los Tres Grandes
Diego Rivera
Jose Clemente Orozco
David Alfaro Siqueiros
Mexican Painting: Frida Kahlo
Learning Objectives
Key Takeaways
Key Points
Frida Kahlo
Paintings
Influences
Artistic Legacy

Content: The Mexican Renaissance | Boundless Art History
The Mexican Renaissance
Mexican Muralism
Mexican muralism can be defined as the mural painting that was used to promote nationalistic ideals as part of efforts to reunify the country under the post-Mexican Revolution government. Learning Objectives
Compare and contrast the works of Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Siqueiros. Key Takeaways
Key Points
At the end of the Mexican Revolution in 1921, the government commissioned the painting of public murals as a way of promoting the ideals of the Revolution to a largely illiterate public. The murals were meant to glorify the Mexican Revolution, promote the identity of Mexico as a mestizo nation—celebrating both indigenous and Spanish backgrounds—and to promote art as a public commodity, not only the province of a few wealthy collectors. While Mexican Muralism was intended to promote the ideals of a new post revolution government, the artists were given complete freedom, so the imagery and themes that were depicted varied from artist to artist. Common imagery in these murals include depictions of the revolution (both positive and negative), a technological and scientific future (Sequeiros in particular), scenes of everyday life and ancient Mexico (Rivera), the horrors of the war (Orozco), and a fear of technology (Orozco). Many of the muralists included elements of Marxism, highlighting the struggle of the working class against oppression. The three most influential muralists from the 20th century were Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Siqueiros; they are known as los tres grandes. The concept of murals to promote political messages carried over to the United States, and served as inspiration to the later Chicano Mural Movement.