Essay On Mexican Muralism

Mexican muralism began in the 1920s. It was led by los tres grandes " the big three" José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Diego Rivera. These three painters had a tremendous influence on Mexican art from the 1920s through the 1940s. The Mexican mural movement was a "vehicle to represent the government's ideology and its vision of history." The plan was for murals to be painted on public buildings to help spread the campaign messages for the government. As social inequality, hunger and unfair distribution of currency and land saturated Mexico and political problems heightened; Mexico entered into the Mexican Revolution under the 29th president of Mexico General Porfirio Diaz. Diaz had a controversial rule and with his barbarous tactics, such as his campaign sloan "pan o palo" or "bread or the stick/club" meant to accept his policies would guarantee a prosperous future with wealth and land, however revolting
Siquieros was known for his communist activities. He was apart of many strikes, which resulted in countless jailings and times of exile. In 1911, he led a victorious strike at the San Carlos Academy. This changed the schools teaching ideas. After serving in the Mexican Revolution Army, Siquieros never slowed down; he worked tirelessly to impair Mexico's dictator Victoriano Huerta. Siquieros was known for his political and social ideas from a left wing perspective within his art. In 1922, he created the mural "Los Mitos" (The Myths") at the National Preparatory School. He later traveled to Los Angeles where he created other murals that depicted the pushy, dominant relationship that America had with Latin America. Other works the Siquieros created took place during World War II "A New Day for Democracy," "Death to the Invader" and "Fraternity Between the Black and White Races;" which represented his anti-Fascist