The Influence of Mexican Muralists on American Art

Los Tres Grandes

• Key Figures: José Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros
• Known for monumental murals depicting struggle, oppression, and triumph
• These artists had a significant cultural exchange with American artists

Historical Context

• 1920s: Post-Mexican Civil War, the government pushed for progressive social reforms
• No shared national identity led the government to commission public murals
• Muralists depicted history and daily life at monumental sizes, allowing the public to see themselves represented

Avant-Garde Scene in Mexico

• Artists like Frida Kahlo, Tina Modotti, and Sergei Eisenstein joined the scene
• Muralists' epic art captured American imagination, leading to what was called the Mexican Renaissance

Impact on American Art

• During the Great Depression, America's political climate shifted and Mexican muralists influenced American artists
• They provided encouragement and a vision for socially connected art

José Clemente Orozco

• First of Los Tres Grandes to come to the U.S.
• Prometheus mural at Pomona College was highly influential
• Jackson Pollock was notably influenced, considering it the best contemporary painting

Diego Rivera

• Arrived second and was a hero of the Western art world
• Created a mural at the Detroit Institute of Arts depicting modern American industry
• Influenced American artists with his political understanding and representation

David Alfaro Siqueiros

• Last to arrive in the U.S., known for his radical politics
• Focused on revolutionary art, not just in content but also in materials and techniques
• His mural, Tropical America, was eventually whitewashed due to its anti-imperialist message
• Set up an experimental workshop in New York, influencing artists like Jackson Pollock

Legacy

• By the 1940s, Los Tres Grandes had returned to Mexico
• Their work continued to influence many American artists
• The cultural exchange between the U.S. and Mexico had a lasting impact on art history