Diego Rivera Prints

Reinventing an Art Form - Rivera Frescoes

The Diego Rivera frescoes created a significant impact not only on the people of his homeland Mexico but also on the entire art world. They were perceived as a new art form, a reinvention of frescoes through murals that made statements, personified passion, and promoted involvement in Mexican nationalism. The most beloved Rivera frescoes symbolize the working class of Mexico.

Although Rivera’s art work often expressed his displeasure with the Mexican government, a certain level of respect existed on both sides. The monetary compensation that the artist received from the Government of Mexico for his initial murals helped him in two ways: it provided him with working capital that allowed him to voice his concerns and political views through art, and it funded his somewhat extravagant lifestyle.

The Beauty and Statement of a Rivera Fresco
The people of Mexico adored this masterful artist as he waged political yet peaceful war against establishment through his powerful works of art. Most of his murals were a virtual explosion of color and meaning, depicting the typical Mexican laborer engaged in his daily chores. Diego Rivera did not create the still life of classical European artistry, or the natural landscapes of so many American artists; his murals were visual forthcomings of both beauty and sociological significance.

The recurring theme of a Diego Rivera fresco consisted of Mexican history on an extravagant scale. The gigantic murals painted on public buildings, for the Government of Mexico, heightened the artist’s notoriety and popularity; they were a flag-waving attempt at bringing attention to the plight of the Mexican farmer as well as the civil rights of the average Mexican citizen. For some, his work was deemed to represent political ideology, while for others, it was a ‘call to arms’, a socialistic if not communistic revolution, and a blatant cry for freedom from class limitations. In all cases, a Rivera fresco is a stunning artistic achievement.

What is a Fresco?
Typically, a fresco is a combination of fresh plaster and paint whose quick drying properties provide the artist with a limited amount of time to work. During the drying process, a highly-durable thick skin of calcium carbonate forms, trapping the paint pigments and creating a spectacular display that differs from oil, watercolor, or any other art medium. Although the prehistoric version of a fresco was actually more of a mural and devoid of the plaster that characterizes a classic fresco, it can still be perceived as the springboard from which all frescoes evolved. But the applause for the discovery of fresco as a meaningful expression of art belongs to Diego Rivera.

Rivera’s Strong Lasting Impact
Before Diego Rivera and his enormous, vibrant murals on public buildings, the Mexican people were silent under the oppression of high society and tainted governmental forces. Between 1922 and 1953, the Rivera frescoes shed light on controversial and political issues that are still plaguing certain part of the country.

To say that a Rivera fresco or mural is solely a public display of anti-establishment is debatable. Some view his work as simply art for the sake of art. Nevertheless, we cannot deny that his legacy not only impacted all of Mexican society, but also reached the far corners of New York City, Paris, and Marxist-Russia. That is impressive for a Mexican artist born to a working class family that had to struggle for the very necessities of life. A Diego Rivera fresco is a badge of honor to the man that concentrated the country’s working class into a major political reformist movement, and literally transformed Mexican nationalism.