Winged angel shows partnership of Church and Cortes
Cortes is carrying an iron sword – resting on dismembered bodies of Aztec victim
Fire in background represents widespread destruction of Spanish soldiers and smallpox.
Aztecs had no metal to match iron’s strength
What is this?
Small pox decimated Aztecs
Cortes is a machine… symbolic of European technology
Absorption of the Indian by Jose Orozco
White European, Hernan Cortes, sits with an Indian woman, Malinche. Symbolic of mixing of two groups to create mestizo people. Mestizo make up majority of Mexicans today Dead mestizo shows unhappiness and illtreatment of mestizo
Yet, restraint – many Mexicans consider Mayan Malinche a traitor Legend: Malinche was given to Cortes as a translator – later they produced a son
Cross, Spanish flag and sword represent colonization
Colonial Domination by Diego Rivera
Brutal labor of gold mines
Yoked to plow
Cuauhtemoc, last Aztec emperor, bowing to conquistadors
Huge land grants given to Spanish encomiendas
Conquistadores use branding iron to brand Indian slave
Total Indian population fell from 25 million to 1 million by 1700
Rivera attempted to summarize 300 years Bag of gold
Describe the European faces… Euro faces drawn as animals
Fight for Liberty by Jose Orozco Father Hidalgo (killed 1811) against Spanish rule Color red – death and violence Masses of people – popularity of independence movement among Indians and mestizos.
Mexican Independence 1810-1821 Criollos – Spanish descent Priest’s collar and cross – role of Church in rebellion
What do you think a fiery machete represent? Machete is symbol of agriculture and fire is revolt.
Juaraz 1831-1872 and the Fall of the Empire by Jose Orozco Mexican flag – patriotism of middleclass
Violent colors
Control of Church 1855 – overthrew dictator Santa Anna, began reforms
Juarez - Zapotec Indian - first to bring legitimate reforms to Mexico
Machetes in hands of peasants Juarez leadership came against European intrusion from Spain and France
1862 – Mexico conquered by France (Napoleon III). Archduke Maximilian of Austria became Emperor of Mexico. Cinco de Mayo = Mexican victory, though French eventually won war. 1867- Juarez conquered Mexico City and executed Maximillian Then continued his reforms until his death in 1872
Repression – History and Perspective of Mexico Repression during rule of Porfirio Diaz (34 year rule) 1876 Diaz came to power – dictator for 34 years. Welcomed foreign investors
Government forces on horse heavily loaded with weapons
Police enforced Diaz’ laws
Sickle represents farm workers Note force used to control farmers (land fell into hands of huge hacienda owners).
Revolution against Porfirian (Porfirio Diaz) Dictatorship 1911 unseated Diaz Peasants lost lands and were forced to work on large haciendas for little wage – conditions near slavery
Government forces used to coerce the farm hands to work.
Peasants responded by rebelling against government.
The Trench by Jose Orozco By 1910, dissatisfaction of Diaz regime lead to open revolt. “Viva la Revolucion”
Three soldiers mirroring the Christian Trinity, add religious element to the movement
The carbines and rifle reinforce the atmosphere of revolution
Mexican Revolution
Red – violent and bloody nature of 10-year long revolution
Sharp angles of bodies inject drama
Land Distribution by Diego Rivera Nation Culture changed as Zapata and Madero became heroes. 1910 – 2% owned land 1940 – 33% owned land (President Lazaro Cardenas) Madero became president 1911
Most tangible result of revolution was the redistribution of hacienda land to landless 1917 Constitution guaranteed lands and factory workers protection
•1913 – Madero was assassinated
•Revolts against the new president, Gernal Huerta (died in jail of liver failure 1816) came from caudillos (strongmen) Emiliano Zapata and Pacho Villa (assassinated 1923). •1920 Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) ruled Mexico from 1920 2000
Mural by Diego Rivera showing a unified Mexican society.
“Sueño de una tarde de domingo en la Alameda Central”
Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda por Diego Rivera
