Diego Rivera & the Muralismo
The Muralismo (mural painting movement) of the 1920s–1950s was Mexico's most important contribution to world art. After the revolution, art was not meant to hang in museums but to be visible on public walls for everyone to see — art of the people.
The Big Three
- Diego Rivera (1886–1957): The storyteller. His murals in the National Palace (CDMX) narrate the entire history of Mexico in epic panoramas. Also represented in Detroit and San Francisco.
- José Clemente Orozco (1883–1949): The somber one. His murals in Hospicio Cabañas (Guadalajara) — especially "El Hombre de Fuego" (The Man in Flames) on the dome — are intensely moving.
- David Alfaro Siqueiros (1896–1974): The radical. Experimented with industrial materials, perspective distortions, and three-dimensional effects. "Marcha de la Humanidad" in the Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros (CDMX) is the largest mural in the world.
Where to see murals?
- Palacio Nacional (CDMX): Rivera's masterpiece — free of charge!
- Palacio de Bellas Artes (CDMX): Works by all three greats.
- Hospicio Cabañas (Guadalajara): Orozco's masterpiece.
- UNAM (CDMX): Mosaic by O'Gorman at the university library — UNESCO World Heritage Site.
