Totonac Civilization 1950

Diego Rivera painted Totonac Civilization as a fresco in the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City, although we don't know the exact date. I see Rivera laying down colours like memories, muted browns and ochres, a haze of blues that feel both distant and familiar. The layering of these colours gives the scene depth, as if the story of the Totonac people is unfolding right before us. Look at the procession of figures in the foreground. The dark outlines around them create a sense of solidity and presence. You can almost feel the weight of their ceremonial objects and the texture of their clothing. And then, there's that pyramid in the background, rendered in such detail that it feels like a real place, a bustling city. It is a bit like a Hopper painting, where you sense that there is a wider narrative beyond the immediate scene. It's this ambiguity that keeps me coming back, finding new layers of meaning with each visit.