Diego Rivera Mexicanidad

Mexicanidad is the essence of Mexican identity. It encapsulates what it means to be Mexican, from the Mesoamericans to modern day, colonisation to revolution. Many Mexican artists use Mexicanidad in their works but it first started with the Tres Grandes: Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros and José Clemente Orozco. In this essay I will look at how Rivera and Orozco capture the idea of Mexicanidad in their art with particular focus on the depiction of indigenous people in their works.

I will first look at Diego Rivera. There are a plethora of works by Rivera that encapsulate Mexicanidad, such as the famous Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central and The History of Mexico. However, I will be looking at the lesser known Fiesta del Maiz . On the surface this painting

A closer study of the painting reveals much more. For starters, the festival itself is of great significance, its origins date back to thousands of years before colonisation, yet it has evolved to revolve around Catholicism, the now dominate religion in Mexico and thus an integral part of Mexicanidad. Now the festival is used to celebrate Saint Mary . The festival alone is testimony to the vast history of Mexico harmoniously combining. Even the location of the festival promotes the idea of unity within Mexico's history. The festival is annually held in a town called Jala, where the colonial buildings are key features. The combination of ancient festival with colonial architecture highlights how the soul of Mexicanidad is unity. This representation of the harmony of