Creation 1923

Diego Rivera's mural ‘Creation’ at the San Ildefonso College in Mexico City. It’s a dense, allegorical scene painted directly onto the wall, probably using a fresco technique. I imagine Rivera standing before this vast surface, mixing his colors, maybe feeling a bit like a god himself, bringing this world into being. Look at the composition: the figures are arranged symmetrically, with the powerful, almost theatrical gesture of the central figure. Rivera was deeply committed to representing the struggles and triumphs of the Mexican people. You can see his interest in the spiritual dimensions of humanity as well. The colors are earthy, warm, and deeply human. It makes me think of other muralists like Orozco and Siqueiros, all wrestling with how to tell big stories on an even bigger scale. ‘Creation’ feels like an ongoing conversation, a back-and-forth between what we inherit and what we imagine, and what we hope to create. It's a testament to how artists build on each other’s visions, always reaching for something new.