Week 5 Project 5b

Diego Rivera's Epic Of

The Mexican People In Their Struggle For Freedom And Independence

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.markbarryportfolio.com/works/Assorted/ionarts/mexico/natpaldiego/diego4.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2004_12_01_archive.html&h=1200&w=1600&sz=862&hl=en&start=11&um=1&tbnid=D0ziZiiL5o4iLM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmexican%2Bart%2Bindependence%2Bperiod%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den

I found this piece online. I was searching for art work in the Independence Period and found the perfect piece to go along with my assignment in "a". I was very fascinated by the grandeur and the colors used in this piece.

Observation: There is much going on in the mural. There are many significant people, like Father Hidalgo, in the mural, whom represent the Independence of Mexico. There are religious leaders, villagers, fire, war, hangings, persecution, soldiers, Father Hidalgo leading the people, etc. The subject is Mexico's Independence. It is a painted mural. Another word for the piece is a fresco, which is a painting technique in which water-based pigments are applied to a surface of wet plaster. Deigo Rivera uses vibrant colors and both sharp and smooth edges. He has a good definition between the light and the dark. He does a very good job depicting the scene, it is almost life-like and I felt as if I were actually there witnessing the battle and the struggles of the people.

Interpretation: The artwork is about Mexico's Independence through the years, the hardships and the struggles, and includes influential people of that time period.

Judgement: I chose this piece because I was looking for art from the Independence Era in Mexico because I'm interested in the history of Mexico. When I came across this piece, I appreciated that it was done by a well known artist, Diego Rivera, and the subject of the piece was my first assignment: Mexico's Independence. I feel triumphant for Mexico for this time in their history. I also feel very sad and bothered by the image because it is about war, death, sacrifice, and that subject irks me. I do not like war and killings, but I can feel triumphant and proud for the people of Mexico because they overcame a lot of oppression and fought for their country, only to succeed.

Questioning: The mural is at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. I would like to know when it was painted and did Diego Rivera paint others like this in different locations?