How Did Diego Rivera Work

Diego Rivera (December 8, 1886 - November 24, 1957) was a Mexican painter that was greatly known for his murals. Rivera’s murals depicted the struggling lives of the working class and the native people of Mexico. Rivera also had a volatile marriage with the fellow Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. His murals in Fresco had helped establish the upcoming Mexican Mural Movement in Mexican art. Many of Diego’s mural pieces can be found in places like Mexico City, Chapingo, Cuernavaca, San Francisco and New York City. His work was inspired by the political ideas of the Mexican Revolution that was happening. During an Italy trip, Diego found an interest in the creation of murals and found great inspiration in the Renaissance Frescos. The government soon found out about Diego Rivera and started to give him money in order to fund a project into creating a series of murals on public buildings. This is when his most famous mural “Man at Crossroads” was created.

Rivera used the wall at Rockefeller Center in New York City as his canvas for the mural. As of today, it’s 15.75 by 37.5 feet and the mural depicts many historical events that occurred during the time period when it when created. One of the many details shown on the mural that can be pointed out instantly is the brutalities of WWI and the weapons they used during the war. Karl Marx, Leon Trotsky and Friedrich Engel, who were key figures in the workers movement can be spotted as well. The left side of the mural depicts the work of capitalism, while the right side is shown as communism. The biggest detail that can be spotted easily is Vladimir Lenin, who is the center of the art