Diego Rivera: Art for the Diego Rivera: Art for the People!People!

Diego’s view of an artist:Diego’s view of an artist:

““An artist is above all a human being, An artist is above all a human being, profoundly human to the core. If the profoundly human to the core. If the artist can’t feel everything that artist can’t feel everything that humanity feels, if the artist isn’t humanity feels, if the artist isn’t capable of loving until he forgets capable of loving until he forgets himself and sacrifices himself if himself and sacrifices himself if necessary, if he won’t put down his necessary, if he won’t put down his magic brush and head the fight against magic brush and head the fight against the oppressor, then he isn’t a great the oppressor, then he isn’t a great artist.”artist.”

Who was Diego Rivera?Who was Diego Rivera?

Born: December 8Born: December 8thth, , 1886 in 1886 in Guanajuato, MexicoGuanajuato, Mexico

Died 1957.Died 1957. Greatest Mexican Greatest Mexican

painter of the 20painter of the 20thth century.century.

Famous for his Famous for his murals in public murals in public places.places.

What inspired his art?What inspired his art?Rivera Rivera

believed that believed that history was the history was the story of the story of the working class working class whose lives whose lives were spent on were spent on war and war and industry. He industry. He saw the saw the answer to their answer to their struggle was in struggle was in communism communism thru Lenin. thru Lenin.

Man at the Crossroads of capitalism, socialism, science and industry. Destroyed in 1934.

The Elephant and the DoveThe Elephant and the Dove Diego’s personal life Diego’s personal life

also made him also made him famous. He was famous. He was married to the artist married to the artist Frida Kahlo but both Frida Kahlo but both had frequent affairs had frequent affairs which made the which made the relationship very relationship very unstable. They even unstable. They even divorced at one time, divorced at one time, but later re-married. but later re-married.

Diego’s artDiego’s artThis a detail of a This a detail of a

mural in capital mural in capital in Mexico City in Mexico City reliving Mexico’s reliving Mexico’s history. What history. What details of their details of their history do you history do you see? see?

Who is Who is pictured pictured in the in the center of center of this this mural? mural?

What is What is the the message message Diego is Diego is giving?giving?The Arsenal, 1928

Diego is giving quite a Diego is giving quite a different message with different message with these pictures of flower these pictures of flower vendors, or is he? vendors, or is he?