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Monumental Diego Rivera

© Suzanne Hill

This Mother’s Day my daughter treated me to dinner at a Mexican restaurant. The walls were adorned with artwork in the style of Diego Rivera – his large-scale stylized rounded forms of children playing, women preparing meals hunched on the ground, workers plucking vegetables. There was also a painting of his wife, Frida Kahlo, done in the style of her many self portraits and displaying the Spanish words: “My doctor, my friend.” I explained to my daughter Rivera’s significance in art history as a master muralist who commemorated his pride in his heritage on huge buildings in such places as Mexico City. She asked that enduring question: “Why?” I had to find out the details.

Mexican History

Mexico has had a troubled history of multiple races attempting to live together in harmony, and of relieving the suffering of their large population of peasants.

Dictator Porforio Diaz, who ruled from 1877 to 1914, seemingly operated from a concern for the people. The country experienced unprecedented growth, railroads were built, GNP increased, land prices rose. Yet the majority remained in poverty, the gap between poor and rich widened, class distinctions and prejudices became more pronounced and oppressive. The final straw occurred when, through land grants to surveying companies and through foreign investment, villagers lost most of their land and rights. Then mines began to close. Droughts resulted in bad harvests and sharply rising food prices. The people grew restless, and the government sent troops to protect Diaz’s power. The people felt relief depended on Diaz’s removal.

A general uprising against Díaz began in 1910. The country became torn by revolution, a People’s Revolution, as the people sought freedom, a better life, land, more corn for tortillas, recognition, self-respect, and a mature identity. The years of war that followed were fueled by infighting among factions, the most notorious instigator being Pancho Villa. Diaz was removed from power, and a succession of rulers followed. Utimately Alvaro Obregón was named president. Optimism grew in the new socialist-inspired regime that times would improve.

Mexican Mural Renaissance

A time of national pride ensued. All people would live together in peace and prosperity. Indigenous peoples would not be treated as lowly citizens. Reforms began in earnest. The new president decided on outdoor mural art as a visual medium highly accessible to the public to help restore a nation tattered by civil war. It would bring art to the masses. This Mexican cultural renaissance denounced European influence and instead celebrated Mexican heritage from early Mesoamerica through the Revolution.

Flower Carrier	Alameda Park	Mundo Indigena	Lillies	Diego
Detroit Indutry north detail	Alameda Park center detail	Frida Kahlo	Nina

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