Figure Symbolizing the Asiatic Race 1951

Diego Rivera made this painting, "Figure Symbolizing the Asiatic Race," with oil, and you can almost see the hours he spent layering the paint to build this scene. The color palette is mostly earth tones—greens and browns—except for that striking yellow figure, which really grabs your attention. I bet Rivera was wrestling with how to make these symbolic figures pop out against the background. It feels like he really wanted to capture this feeling of life emerging and constantly shifting. Look at how the green hues blend into each other, creating a sense of depth and movement. It reminds me of other artists who were trying to capture big themes about identity and history. Like, what was Rivera thinking about when he put those froglike creatures in there? It's like he's saying we're all connected, all evolving together.