By Local Guides

Mexican Muralism

Murals were initially started by the government in Mexico, led by the Ministry of education, a few years after the Revolution was over and it was a way to promote the “mestizo” heritage of the nation and glorify the Revolutionary efforts, and were often considered controversial at the time of painting.
However, modern Mexican muralism has deep roots in pre-Hispanic traditions of the Olmec, Mayan, Aztec and other ancient American civilizations that created magnificent murals of impressive blue, red or white colors in pre Columbian times.

Influenced by the “Big Three”: Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros and José Clemente Orozco, Mexican muralism began around the 1920´s and was always linked to the promotion of social and political messages, most often linked to concepts of socialism.

Rivera was the most traditional of the three, inspired by cubism and European modernism, when he´s back to Mexico he focused on indigenous people and culture in his art. Orozco was far dourer than Rivera, expressing fear and pain in his murals and shying away from glorification of the Revolution. Siqueiros was probably the most radical and communist of this “Big Three” (which made him unpopular in Mexico and the US) The “Big Three” were not the only muralists of the movement, other important artists that build up a reputation were Pablo O´Higgins, Jorge González Camarena, Federico Cantú, Alfredo Zalce, Rufino Tamayo, Juan O´Gorman, Aurora Reyes, Valetta Swan, Fanny Rabel and Marion Greenwood.

Years ago Carlos Monsivais, an important social leader and writer committed to the social movements in Mexico wrote: “muralist helped to build up the image of a unified country and spread the idealism of Mexico”.

“Mexican Muralism” by Alfredo de la Cruz

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Posts
  4. /
  5. Blog
  6. /
  7. Mexican Muralism
Book Now
logo
logo
logo
logo
logo
logo

Cancun

Ave. Palenque Sm. 26 CP. 77509 Q.R.

Oaxaca

Nieve #208-A
CP. 68040 Oaxaca

Morelia

Braulio Mercado #540
CP. 58219 Michoacan

Merida

Calle 43 #555
CP. 97000 Yucatan

San Cristobal

Paseo de las Flores 2
CP. 29298 Chiapas

Mexico City

Durango #108, Roma
Del. Cuauhtémoc
CP. 06700

Chihuahua

Paseo de Belleza #1414
CP. 31125 Chihuahua

Guadalajara

Plateros #2567
Jardines GDL
CP. 44210
error: Content is protected !!