Moria Nadeau

Latin American Muralists and Painters

David Alfaro

David Alfaro was a Mexican social realist painter, who was known for his large murals in fresco. He was born in 1896 and passed away in 1974. Along with Diego Rivera, and Jose Clemente Orozco he established Mexican Muralism.

This mural is interesting as it looks like the central figure is working to break free of chains and weights that are holding her down. The person laying on the side seems to have gotten in her way and she knocked him out of her way.

This painting is very different from the first one as it's much more realistic and looks like all the women are gathering around the lady in the centre with the baby. the woman nest to her looks angry for some reason and it would be interesting to know what the inspiration of this painting was.

This painting is again very different, the little child on it's own makes you wonder how it got to be there and why it's all alone.

Diego Rivera

Diego Rivera was also a Mexican painter, who worked on large murals.

This painting is very beautiful, the woman reclining on the lounge looks like she has just sat down to take a rest from a party, or event of some kind. The lilies seem to be a continuing theme in Rivera's work.

The calla lilies again make an appearance in this painting, this time it looks like it's the workers gathering them this time. With this painting the next and the last it kind of shows the different live that the calla lilies touch and effect.

The calla lilies again make an appearance this time in a more private moment. This painting looks like the artist caught the subject in a private moment, and had to paint it to keep it forever. It's lovely to look at and admire the beauty that he captured.

This painting looks like a celebration of some sort, maybe a wedding or a festival. It's very cheerful, and the colours make the viewer feel involved in the moment.

These next two paintings look like they could have been painted around The Day of the Dead. The people are all dressed in their best fro the celebration while there is the people in costume with the skull masks around them. These again capture the festive atmosphere, and make you think the people involved are enjoying themselves.

Jose Clemente Orozco

Jose Clemente Orozco, also a Mexican social realist painter, was influenced by symbolism. He focused more on the suffering experienced by people.

This painting looks like it could be a judge or someone else in authority pronouncing a judgement over the people. It makes me want to know what he's saying and what the people did to make him look so concerned.

Again it looks like there are figures of authority overlooking some sort of ritual, but in this case the subjects are all already dead. The one figure standing between the skeletons legs seems to be reading something which makes you wonder what the meaning of the painting could be, and was the skeletons crime something to do with the books in the foreground.

Candido Portinari

Candido Portinari was an artist from Brazil, who painted in the neo-realism style. He was born in 1903 and he passed away in 1962 of lead poisoning from his paints.

This painting is interesting as it shows the native people working in the fields while the land owner is instructing them s to what to do. While none of the workers look like they hate they work, neither do they look like they are completely enjoying it.

This painting is fascinating because it shows a child's death or funeral, and it's family mourning him/her. It's quite dark, but beautiful at the same time, as it shows the raw images of the feelings a family would feel at the death of a child.

Tarsila do Amaral

Tarsila do Amaral was a Brazilain artist who painted in the modernist style. She was a member of the Grupo dos Cinco (Group of Five) which also included Anita Malfatti, Menotti Del Picchia, Mario de Andrade and Oswald de Andrade.

This painting looks like it would be a beautiful location to have a house or even just am picnic, the colours used in the painting are vibrant and inviting.