Museo Mural Diego Rivera (Day 26 of 27)
Sunday Afternoon Dream at Central Alameda - Mural by Diego Rivera
Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda Central
This mural is a faithful and provocative portrayal of Mexican society seen along the timeline of Mexico's history. Rivera comments on social-economical and political problems of Mexico, past and present through his painting. Diego Rivera obsessively completed this mural within 3 months, with a staff of three other painters. The mural is about 15 yards by 4 yards.
 |
Selected Close-up: A poor boy and thief (barefooted and wearing white) attempts to rob, dreaming of the food he can buy with the money.
To the right of the boy is an old woman (in black robe), dreaming of her affair with an American invader (in green), with whom she had a blond son.
To the left of the boy is an old napping man (in top hat and cane), reliving the past glorious era of Mexico (dancing with woman) under General Santa Anna.
General Santa Anna (in feathered cap and holding gold keys) is above the boy and above the extended arm of the dancing woman.
To the right of Santa Anna is American General Winfield Scott, head of the troops that occupied Mexico City, camping at the Alameda.
|
The Mexican-American War in the Mural
Prior to 1848, the area of Republic of Mexico was twice what it is today. The entire northern half of what was Mexico - currently known as Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona - was lost to United States by the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848. In the mural, General Santa Ana holds gold keys that represent the territories lost. Santa Ana is portrayed with a bulbous red nose, because he was known to be a heavy drinker.
In the mural, Santa Anna faces the American General Winfield Scott, the head of the troops that occupied Mexico City for 2 years, from 1846 to 1848. During this time, American soldiers wore green uniforms. Look in the mural for the blond man below General Scott, but the American soldier's face is blocked by the face of a Mexican woman who is the soldier's lover.
 |
| Stone of the Sun, currently housed at the National Museum of Anthropology |
Also at this time, an enormous Aztec stone disc (that is as tall a house) was on display outside the Metropolitan Cathedral. The disc is famously known as "Stone of the Sun." It is said that American soldiers had fun by using it for practicing target shooting.
Interpretation of Mexico's history in Three Layers
The mural creatively tells Mexico's history in three layers:
- Bottom layer - persons representing segments of the Mexican population
- Middle layer - the person's dream or sueño
- Top layer - actual historical events.
 |
| Panel 1 of 6 Events: Conquest, Inquisition, Enlightment, Independence from Spain People: Conquistador Hernan Cortés, philosopher and writer Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, President and liberal reformer Benito Juaréz, Liberal Nigromante who wrote "God Does Not Exist" Dreamers: Old man who fought under Santa Anna, boy thief thinking of food, old widow who had a child with an American solder, drunken soldier who fought on the liberal side |
 |
| Panel 2 of 6 Events: French influence, and independence from French occupation People: Wife and daughter(?) (red and blue dresses) of French-installed ruler Maximillian, Cuban journalist José Martí (under the green urn). Dreamers: Two boys (on left) who are competing vendors of newspapers and pastries, dreaming of their future friendship and selling balloons and toys |
 |
| Panel 3 of 5 Events: Life under President turned Dictator Porfirio Díaz People: Diego Rivera as a young boy (holding umbrella), Frida Kahlo holding ying-yang symbol (above Diego), La Calavera Catrina - skeleton woman character (in white dress, plumed hat and a plumed-serpent scarf) - holding young Diego's hand and arm of José Guadalupe Posada, an artist who invented the well-recognized Catrina character. Dreamers: Two competing vendors of newspapers and pastries dreaming of their future friendship and selling balloons and toys, Diego Rivera dreaming of his future wife Frida Kahlo resting her hand on Diego's shoulder |
 |
| Panel 4 of 6 Events: Life under President turned Dictator Porfirio Díaz People: Aeronaut Joaquín de la Cantolla y Rico (tilted head, holding cane), Porfirio Díaz (white hair and mustache, above angel) Dreamers: Cantolla is dreaming of his future conducting a balloon decorated with RM for Republic of Mexico, Old disabled soldier (well decorated in medals, walking with crutches) being disrespected by a young boy behind him and recognized by an angel holding laurel branch |
 |
| Panel 5 of 6 Events: Mexican Revolution (civil war) People: Revolutionary fighters (man wearing red bandana and on horseback, man shooting a pistol gun at former oppressor, and woman wearing blue wrap and holding up a rifle, ready but not aimed) Dreamers: Lower class family of citizens (foreground) barred from entering the Alameda which was reserved for exclusive use by upper and middle class citizens. The man bandana around neck becomes the revolutionary fighter on horseback, the woman with baby strapped to her back becomes the woman fighter holding the rifle, and the oldest son holding a red-orange blanket becomes the fighter shooting a pistol at the policeman barring entrance. |
 |
| Panel 6 of 6 Events: Post-Revolution and Modern Mexico People: Emiliano Zapata - a leader of the Revolution and agrarian movement, contemporary Mexican presidents who Rivera portray as corrupt by prostituting (woman in green with legs spread open) themselves to lobbyists and bribers (green faced men and man hiding a law book) Dreamers: Former Zapatista (on bench, holding sombrero) dreaming of his fight for the Revolution, young Diego Rivera (in blue school uniform eating a pastry) dreaming of his future wife Guadalupe Marín and daughters (Guadalupe Rivera and Ruth). Rivera had 4 wives, including Frida Kahlo whom he re-married several times. |
MORE POSTS
NEXT POST (Day 27 of 27) REGALOS
PREVIOUS POST (Day 25 of 27) CADA DE TAPAS
Comments
Post a Comment