Mexican Muralism Art – An In-Depth Look at the Mexican Mural Movement

Mexican muralism art, which emerged around the 1920s, made use of various political and social messages in the murals that were created as the country was nearing the end of the Mexican Revolution. Described as a great cultural transformation that took place, Mexican murals became a great topic of focus in the art world, as the themes derived in the works carried important messages. Ranging from paintings on public buildings to other notable areas, Mexican muralism art spanned for over 50 years, only fading away in the 1970s.

What Was Mexican Muralism Art?

Described as the “greatest Renaissance in the contemporary world” to ever happen, the Mexican muralism art movement was a truly innovative and groundbreaking style of art that developed. As it appeared out of the fragile peace that was left in the country at the end of the revolution, Mexican muralism proved to be an incredibly poignant movement at the time.

As the Mexican mural movement promoted the creation of mural paintings, this style encouraged a big cultural change in terms of the art that was already being produced.

As the country was under the rule of the post-Mexican Revolution government at the time, Mexican murals aimed to reunite citizens through the various social and political messages that were communicated in the artworks.

Center of Diego Rivera’s wide mural Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda Central (Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Central) (1946 – 1947), located in the Museo Mural Diego Rivera in Mexico City, Mexico; Diego Rivera, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The movement was originally created by the desire to promote feelings of pride and nationalism in a country that was attempting to pick up the pieces left by the revolution. Mexican muralism essentially renewed the concept of painting from something outdated to a prestigious art form with a strong social and political potential.

As the Mexican mural movement spread throughout the country, a deep and vibrant visual language began to develop. This soon appeared in public spaces in an attempt to make art accessible to all without any bureaucratic hurdles.

Mexican muralism art jumped at the chance to teach and enlighten ordinary individuals and the general public through messages of cultural identity, diplomacy, persecution, opposition, progress, and other important issues that were conveyed in the famous murals produced.

A section of El desembarco de los españoles y la cruz plantada en tierras nuevas (The Spaniards disembarking and the Cross planted in new lands) by Ramon Alva de la Canal, located in one of the walls of the San Ildefonso College in the historic center of Mexico City, Mexico; Ramon Alva de la CanalThelmadatter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Mexican mural movement was an extremely independent style of art, with most of its early artists dismissing all outside influences. Led by “the three big” painters, Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros, these artists used this new, extensive, and liberating movement of mural painting to achieve great personal expression.

Mexican muralism demonstrated that art could be used as a legitimate communication tool outside of galleries and museums, as the revolution led art down a completely new path of exploration.