1886-1957

Diego Rivera

Related Core Content AH-06-2.4.1Program of Studies/Skills and Concepts: AH-6-HA-S-VA1, 2, 3, 4, 5Program of Studies/Understandings: AH-6-HA-U-1, 2, 3

Related Core Content: AH-06-3.4.1Program of Studies/Skills and Concepts: AH-6-PCA-S-VA1, 2Program of Studies/Understandings: AH-6-PCA-U-1,2,3

Production of Visual Arts Department; South Laurel Middle School; London, KY

Diego Rivera

•Prominent Mexican painter•Revolutionary outlook; active socialist•Frequently used political themes•Established the Mexican Mural Renaissance

Early Life of Diego RiveraBorn to wealthy family in MexicoShowed early promise as an artistEntered San Carlos School of Fine Arts in

Mexico City at age 11 (most began at age of 16)

Expelled after taking part in student protestContinued art study in Madrid, Spain.Decided he did not like Spanish styleWent to Paris to study in 1909

Diego Rivera as a Young ManReturned to the San Carlos School

of Fine Arts in 1910 (age 24), the same school that expelled him, to be part of a celebration

Sold 38 of 40 paintings he brought with him

The paintings depicted suffering: hunger, poverty, oppression

Zapatista Landscape: The Guerilla

•What do you representational objects do you see within the Cubist handling of subject matter ?•What contrast do you see in terms of subject matter?

Rivera Becomes a Mural Painter

Mural: A painting applied directly to a wall, large in scale.

Painted for Ministry of Public Education about social life

Fresco: Art of painting into wet plaster

Ministry of Public Education124 frescoesThree stories

highTwo blocks longOne block wide

Process that Rivera followedPlanningPencil sketches of

each scene (done in studio)

Enlarge to final size on the wall

Painting into fresh wet plaster

Painting quickly (plaster dries in 6-12 hours)

Mural in the National Palace in Mexico City: History of Mexico

Subject Matter of Diego’s Work

Diego’s work were about people in history

People in a certain social class

People united by a common cause or problem

This painting is “Night of the Rich”. What opinion do you think Diego seems to be expressing?

Diego in AmericaFascinated with

machinery and engineering in America

Painted mural about wonders of modern machines at Detroit’s Institute of the Arts

Sometimes there was controversy•Rivera asked to paint mural at Rockefeller Center in New York City•He was asked to depict social, political, industrial and scientific possibilities of the 20 th century•He did so but painted Communist Leader Lenin leading American workers in demonstration•This painting created so much controversy it was removed from the wall•Rivera’s political beliefs and depiction of them in his work frequently led to outcry

What purpose(s) in art do you feel Diego Rivera’s work served?•Functional•Artistic Expression•Persuasive•Narrative•Ceremonial

Diego Rivera influenced WPA in America•Franklin Roosevelt established Works Progress Administration in order to put Americans back to work after the great Depression of the 1930’s.•A program to put artists to work was suggested to Roosevelt by an advisor who had studied under Rivera•The Public Works Art Project of 1935 put artists to work painting murals (scenes of American life) on the walls of public buildings.•This Public Works Art Project was the inspiration behind WPA which put millions to work doing various public work projects throughout the country. Do you know of buildings built in your hometown during this period?

The Federal Art Project•Gave 5000 artists work.•Produced over 225,000 artworks for the American public.•Influenced many of these artists to follow Rivera’s footsteps in “looking out for the common man”.•Many of the artists went on to become famous in their own right. Rothko, DeKooning and Pollack are three of those artists.

Discuss COMPLETELY, using complete sentences.•Where do you see rhythm and repetition?Describe at least five instances.•What kind of balance does this painting have? Explain why.•Where is the focal point? How is the focal point emphasized?•Where do you see the greatest amount of contrast? Why do you think the greatest contrast is in this point?•What pathway does the eye follow in viewing this painting?

The Flower Seller by Diego Rivera

Discuss COMPLETELY using complete sentences:1.Where is rhythm and repetition found in this painting? Describe each instance you find (at LEAST five).2.Are the colors used mostly warm or cool colors? Where do you see these colors?3.Where is the focal point? How has the artist directed our attention there?

La Pinata by Diego Rivera