Mexican Renaissance

Muralist Movement

Overview

• Constitution of 1917• Educational Reforms• Los Tres Grandes• Frida Kahlo

What were the important post-revolutionary education reforms?

• Before the Revolution education was generally meant for the elite

• Schools were run by the Catholic Church• Literacy rate about 20%

After the Revolution

• Many leaders believed that Mexico could not move forward economically, politically, or culturally, without some improvements in education.

How did the Constitution of 1917 change education?

• Article 3: Secular and obligatory education

– Free and secular education

– Four years of elementary school for children 6-15

• Jose Vasconcelos– Appointed by Obregon to be head of Secretariat of

Public Education(1921-24)– Built new schools especially rural ones– Built libraries– Published guides for teachers and students– Promoted Mexican identity

Who were “Los Tres Grandes”?

• Diego Rivera• David Alfaro Siqueiros• Jose Clemente Orozco

Diego Rivera

• 1886-1957• Studied in Europe • Influenced by

Renaissance frescoes• Believed large scale

public art• Dedicated Marxist• Internationalist• Outsized figure

Rivera’s Themes

• Mexicans hard at work

• Natural glories of Mexico

• The Revolution

David Alfaro Siqueiros

• 1896-1974• Soldier during the

Revolution• Committed communist• 1919 went to Paris to

study and was influenced by the avant- garde

• Often jailed and exiled

Themes and Techniques

• Mexican Revolution as inspiration• Conflict between fascists and democratic

people• Broke away from traditional frescoes– Used spray guns to apply industrial paints– Projectors to display images– Used cameras for planning

Jose Clemente Orozco

• 1883-1949• Began as a political

cartoonist• Encouraged by teachers

to have pride in Mexican culture instead of looking to Europe

• Critical of leaders who grew wealthy from the Revolution

Themes

• History of Mexico

• Contradictions

Frida Kahlo

• 1907-1954• Suffered from polio and

injuries in street car accident

• Married-divorced-and married Diego Rivera

Themes

• Intensely personal• Represents the opportunity of women after

the Revolution• Expressive in ways not allowed by women

before the Revolution

Making Revolutionary Art

• The reforms in education brought on by the revolution had a large influence on the arts.

• • The arts were seen as a way to both educate the Mexican people and

to develop a new Mexican nationalism.• • Make a collage or mosaic that illustrates the contributions of a person

or an event in Mexican history from the period of the Mexican Revolution. (10 Formative points)

• Accompanying your artwork will be a written description of your collage or mosaic. Be sure to include; what are you illustrating, why it is important to the development of nationalism and explain any symbols that you use. (10 formative points)

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