Zapatista's Marching 1931

Jose Clemente Orozco made "Zapatista's Marching" using oil on canvas, and there's this beautiful, somber tone to the whole piece. The marks are pretty direct, not fussy, which gives it a sense of immediacy. The palette is earthy, lots of browns and reds, but then he throws in these pops of white and yellow that really grab your attention. Look at how the thick paint gives texture to the sombreros. There's a real physicality to it, like you could almost feel the weight of the march. Notice how he uses those diagonal lines of the marchers to create a sense of movement, and the way their heads are all bowed down, it’s heavy with emotion. The brushstrokes are bold, and the color palette works together to create a sense of a heavy and burdened movement. You know, looking at this, I’m reminded of Käthe Kollwitz, with her focus on the suffering of ordinary people. Ultimately, art is about an ongoing conversation, different voices echoing through time, and it’s up to us to listen.