Reaching out 1924

Jose Clemente Orozco made this mural, *Reaching Out*, using a limited palette of browns, yellows, and blues. I imagine Orozco up on scaffolding, his arm extended, brush in hand, layering tones to create this stark image. Those outstretched hands and the coin box with its heavy padlock speak of social tension. The cool greys add to the sombre mood, but there's also a stark beauty in the composition – a dramatic tension between light and dark. It reminds me of Goya's dark paintings, which also portray political turmoil and human suffering. The bottom hand emerges as a receiver of these offerings. The act of giving is contrasted with the chasm that exists between people. I wonder what Orozco wanted to convey. There is something so moving about art that encourages dialogue across time.