Diego Rivera

Diego Rivera is best known for his distinctive murals of typical Latin American lifestyles and his sharp contrast in colors. Although he studied art in Mexico City, Rivera traveled abroad to Madrid and Paris where he met Picasso. Following his connection with Picasso, Rivera began to paint Cubist works, which are persuaded by both the influence of Gris and Braque. Upon deciding to travel abroad once again, Rivera found himself in Italy where he began studying the Renaissance Masters, who in reality impacted his imagination. Returning to his native city in Mexico in the early 1920’s, he focused his vision into massive murals which were done on the walls of industrial and public buildings. Similar to his wife, Frida Kahlo, Rivera depicted the history of Mexico and also the natives. Mexico at this time was dominated by left-wing, anti-clerical government, which impacted both Rivera and the citizens of Mexico. During this time period, Rivera became the leading artist of the revolution in society. In addition, Rivera worked in the United States of America paintings murals just as he had previously did in Mexico. However, the murals Rivera constructed in the states were different as they admired the industrial age and also social messages appeared frequently on his murals in America. Truthfully, Diego Rivera just like Frida Kahlo endowed their personal sense of folk art with the surprise of Aztec symbols and Byzantine symbols.

Quotes from Rivera:

"I did not know it then, but Frida had already become the most important fact in my life. And would continue to be, up to the moment she died, 27 years later."

"Through her paintings, she breaks all the taboos of the woman's body and of female sexuality."

"July 13, 1954 was the most tragic day of my life. I had lost my beloved Frida forever. To late now I realized that the most wonderful part of my life had been my love for Frida."

"Never before had a woman put such agonizing poetry on canvas as Frida did at this time in Detroit."

"If I ever loved a woman, the more I loved her, the more I wanted to hurt her. Frida was only the most obvious victim of this disgusting trait."