Delfina and Dimas 

Diego Rivera made this oil painting on canvas called "Delfina and Dimas," although we don't know exactly when. Rivera used the traditional materials and processes of painting. But there’s nothing traditional about the way he used them. See how the heavy, earthy tones and rough brushstrokes give the image a feeling of humble strength. The weight of the paint and the simple forms emphasize the everyday reality of the mother and child. It's a world away from the slick surfaces and idealized subjects you might find in academic painting. Rivera was deeply engaged with the social issues of his time, particularly the lives of working-class people. Here, he elevates the quiet dignity of motherhood, imbuing it with a sense of monumentality usually reserved for historical or religious subjects. It shows the extraordinary skill that Rivera put at the service of ordinary people. By focusing on the material and the act of making, Rivera blurred the lines between high art and the everyday, inviting us to see beauty and value in the lives of all.