Mexican Mural Movement

The Mexican Mural Movement began in the 1920’s (right after the Revolution) and lasted through the 1940’s.  Before this movement most Mexican artists were inspired by European artists, but when the movement began things started to change.  Mexican artists insisted that a new school of art be built so that they would be free to make art that would reinforce Mexican identity and the principles of the Revolution.  In response to the demands of his people, President Victoriano Huerto appointed Alfredo Ramos Martinez director of the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plasticas, and he started the reform.  Artists were encouraged to paint murals to draw attention to Mexican history and culture.  The three artistic leaders of the Mexican Mural Movement were Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Jose Clemente Orozco.  I have chosen to analyze one piece from each artist.

 

The first piece I have chosen to analyze is Exploitation of Mexico by Spanish Conquistadors, painted by Diego Rivera in Mexico City between 1929 and 1945.  Rivera was born in Guanajuato, Mexico in 1886 and began painting at a young age.  He became famous in his twenties for reintroducing fresco painting into modern art.  He had a romance with fellow painter Frieda Kahlo.  Rivera is considered the greatest Mexican painter of the twentieth century.  I picked this painting because it vividly and colorfully illustrates the native Mexican struggle against the Spanish conquistadors.  I enjoy this piece because it does not sugar coat anything; people are seen being whipped, hanged, and worked to the bone.  While this is quite graphic and unpleasant, it shows the true pain and suffering the Mexicans had to go through.  It tells a story and is visually appealing with its crisp lines and bright colors.

 

The second work I have selected to investigate is Cuauhtemoc Against the Myth, painted by David Alfaro Siqueiros in Mexico City in 1944.  Siqueiros was born in 1896.  He was very active politically and was involved in the conflicts of the Mexican Revolution as a protestor, soldier, and demonstrator.  Much of his art was influenced by the anguish of prison life, as he spent many years in jail for the actions that stemmed from his radical political beliefs.  He said that “art must no longer be the expression of individual satisfaction (which) it is today, but should aim to become a fighting educative art for all.”  I chose this piece because it very emotion-oriented.  The people depicted in this painting look distressed, which comes across in their tense bodies and their strained faces.  I found this piece interesting because the subject of focus is not in the center of the painting but is around the edges, causing the viewer’s eyes to dance across the whole work.  I like this piece because it is unique.

 

The third painting I have decided to examine is Omnisciencia, painted by Jose Clemente Orozco in Mexico in 1925.  Orozco was born in 1883.  He was influenced by both Jose Posada (another famous Mexican artist) and Symbolism.  He was very involved in the revolution and became a political cartoonist.  I selected this work because it is very clear and detailed.  Much like the previous piece, it is emotion-oriented.  The person on the left seems angry and tense, the middle person is content and at peace, and the person on the right is somewhere in between.  The viewer may experience several emotions while investigating this painting.  I enjoy the complexity and intricacy of the details of this work, especially the furrowed brow of the subject on the left.

 

Works Cited

http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2006/2/06.02.01.x.html#b

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/diego-rivera/about-the-artist/64/

http://www.wfu.edu/history/StudentWork/fysprojects/kmason/DvASiq.htm

http://www.wfu.edu/history/StudentWork/fysprojects/kmason/Orozco.htm

Street Art

I chose Street Art as the theme of my blog.  Street Art typically only lasts a few days, which is fascinating and beautiful to me.  I have always been intrigued by this art style; it is very different from most art because it is ephemeral yet has a lasting impact.  Some call it graffiti, which oftentimes has a negative connotation associated with it.  However, most Street Art is actually quite beautiful and is meant to improve the looks of the surroundings rather than to trash and destroy them.

 

  

The first artist I have decided to focus on is Jean-Michel Basquiat.  He was an American and was born in 1960.  He was known as a graffiti artist as a teenager but was eventually persuaded by gallery owners to put his works on canvas because they believed his art was beautiful.  Basquiat’s work mainly focused on African American heroes and made him an overnight sensation.  Unfortunately, Basquiat died of a drug overdose at the age of 27.  The first piece I have chosen by this artist is Untitled, which was painted in America in 1981.  This piece is very colorful and appears to be more centered on emotions than attention to detail.  The painting is not realistic, but it conveys the feelings of the subject, who seems to be frustrated and frantic because the expression on his face is tense and his hands are flailing above his head.  I enjoy this piece because it combines the graffiti look with an almost Pablo Picasso inspired feel.  The second piece I have chosen by this artist is Untitled (Skull), which was painted in America in 1984.  To me, this work looks like something I would see on the streets of Mexico during the Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities.  The skull and vibrant colors are typical of this holiday.  I think this piece is very beautiful even though it is not realistic because, much like the first painting, it is emotion oriented and vivacious.

 

 

 

The second artist I have picked is Julian Beever.  He is a British artist who uses street drawings to produce optical illusions.  He creates his works with chalk.  Beever’s work is transient, and it survives only in photographic records.  The first work I have selected by this artist is Politicians Meeting Their End, which was drawn outside The Bank of England in 1997.  This work is humorous because it depicts politicians falling into a hole in the ground.  It creates the illusion that the opening is really there.  I would be afraid to fall into the “hole” if I saw this in real life!  I think this work is well done and fun.  The second work I have selected by this artist is Making Mr. Snowman, which was created in the UK in 2008.  This work is fun for people of all ages.  As you can see, the little girl in the photograph is enjoying herself while pretending to put the carrot on the snowman.  This work is also very illusionistic and looks as though it is three-dimensional.  I enjoy this work because it puts me in the holiday spirit!

 

 

The third artist I have chosen is Kurt Wenner.  He is an American artist who does street paintings and chalk drawings.  His work often reflects Renaissance classicism with a modern twist.  The first work I have decided to analyze by this artist is Reflections.  Unfortunately, I was unable to find when and where this work was created.  This work is one of my all time favorites.  I love how it includes live models.  The reflections in the water look very similar to the real people.  The work is painted on a street; however, it looks like there is actually a well in the middle of the street because Wenner creates the illusion that the piece is three-dimensional.  The second work I have decided to analyze by this artist is Neptune’s Revenge.  I couldn’t find the date or location for this work either.  I enjoy this work because, like the other one, it looks three-dimensional.  It has beautiful colors and details as well.

 

Works Cited

http://basquiat.com/

http://www.julianbeever.net/

http://kurtwenner.com/

Influence of African Americans on Early Modern Art

African Americans had a great influence on art of the Early Modern Period.  The Harlem Renaissance was in full swing during this period.  This renaissance was a cultural movement of 1920’s which was aimed at establishing racial equality among whites and African Americans.  The Harlem Renaissance helped lay down the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement.

 

The first piece I have chosen to analyze is Palmer C. Hayden’s Midsummer Night in Harlem.  It was painted in 1938 in America.  Hayden was one of the first African American artists to include African subjects and designs in his pieces.  This work illustrates the African American community in a glowing light and shows how the people of this community were rising up in the world during this era.  The white clothing of the people depicted in the painting portrays their purity and freedom.  While not everyone is wearing white, the others are wearing bright and happy colors, displaying their joy of independence.  The people in the piece all look like they are having a good time and enjoying each other’s company, showing how close the African American community is.  I enjoy this painting because it is lively and energetic.  The colors are vibrant, and the people look genuinely happy.  I can’t help but to smile when I look at this piece!

 

The second work I have decided to use in my blog is Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin.  It was published in 1899 in America.  Joplin was the son of a slave.  He learned to play several instruments as a young man.  His Maple Leaf Rag became one of America’s first pop hits and sold hundreds of thousands of copies.  It is a jazz piece.  African Americans had a great influence on the music of the Early Modern Era, especially when it came to jazz music, which was based on the rhythms and music of Western Africa.  I enjoy Maple Leaf Rag because it is upbeat, cheerful, and puts me in a happy mood.  It is also well-written and well-played.

 

The last work I have picked to examine is Brother Brown by Lois Mailou Jones.  It was created in 1931 in America.  Many of Jones’ pieces depict the social struggles of African Americans.  She painted this work while teaching at Palmer Memorial Institute in North Carolina.  She was originally interested in textile design but switched to painting after being told that colored girls couldn’t possibly create attractive designs.  Clearly, the decorator was wrong and she was capable of making beautiful art as seen in Brother Brown.  I like this piece because it has appealing colors.  Also, Jones made sure to pay attention to both the background and the foreground in terms of detail.

 

Works Cited

http://www.charlotteviewpoint.org/article/146/Lois-Mailou-Jones—A-Revelatory-Exhibit-at-the-Mi

http://harlemrenaissancemartin.blogspot.com/2008/04/blog-post.html

http://music.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/9905_ragtime/

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10838886/1/70-year-retrospective-of-trailblazing-african-american-artist-lois-mailou-jones.html