Week of 3/2: The Hidden Meaning in Artwork

This week, we analyzed the mural Dream of a Sunday Afternoon by Diego Rivera, and this proved to be extremely interesting to me. I have never cared much for art history, but this, for me, was one of the more enjoyable class periods of the semester. Maybe I enjoyed it because this work of art had so much connection to Mexican history - I do not know. Either way, one thing that especially stood out to me today was the amount of detail in the mural. The whole mural definitely was one long story - there were three distinct parts, but it was obvious that they all belonged together. The darker parts of Mexican history were portrayed in darker colors. The logo of the mural's venue (the hotel) was incorporated into the scene. The snake around the neck of Skeleton Lady (my affectionate name for La Catrina) symbolizes Quetzalcoatl. Rivera's self-portrait is holding the hand of La Catrina. And the list continues. It would take me years to think of that much detail. It never ceases to amaze me how people can just naturally think of these things. Ultimately, artistic ability is undeniably a talent, and the symbolism and detail of this work of art are what make it such an amazing piece.

Comments

  1. Médar SerrataMarch 15, 2022 at 7:13 PM

    Thank you, Seth, for your post. I'm glad you enjoyed the discussion of Rivera's mural. The level of detail it has is truly amazing. For that very reason, I doubt that Rivera just thought of these things. Some of the symbols included in the painting belong to Mexican culture; others, are expression of Rivera's personal experience. Add to this the influences of other artists, as a result of his studies. This is what makes his painting so rich and complex.

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