Alliance of the Peasant and the Industrial Worker 1924

Diego Rivera painted this fresco, Alliance of the Peasant and the Industrial Worker, at the Chapingo Autonomous University. We see a worker and a peasant shaking hands against the backdrop of a life-giving sun. Note the handshake, a recurring motif throughout history, signifying unity and agreement. This act of solidarity appears across cultures, from ancient Roman bas-reliefs to contemporary political cartoons. Observe how this simple gesture conveys trust and mutual respect, yet it has also been used to seal pacts of betrayal. The sun, a symbol of enlightenment and rebirth, casts its glow upon the scene. It reminds us of its early depictions as a life-giving force in ancient Egyptian art, and how it evolves into a symbol of divine authority in Renaissance paintings. Rivera evokes a primal image of collective identity in this work, inviting viewers to engage with themes of social justice, land, and progress.