Diego Rivera, a famous Mexican artist of the 20th century, is known for his distinctive style and large frescoes. He was born to working-class parents and traveled to Europe to perfect his style. Rivera married multiple times and was active in the Mexican Communist Party. His work incorporates traditional Mexican folk art and political themes, making him an idol for many Latin American artists.
Diego Rivera is one of the most famous Mexican artists of the 20th century, and examples of his work can be found around the world, both in the form of paintings in various art collections and as giant frescoes decorating public spaces. Born in 1886, he lived a stormy and adventurous life until his death in 1957. His work is greatly admired by artists and connoisseurs the world over and his distinctive style is easily identifiable by most people who are even vaguely familiar with Western art.
Along with a twin brother who died before the age of two, Diego Rivera was born to working-class parents. His talent for art quickly became evident and his father helped him set up an art studio at a young age. Rivera, however, was not born as an artist: he briefly attended military school before going to art school. In 1907 he traveled to Europe on a scholarship and spent the years 1909 to 1919 in Paris, where he met many influential artists of the time and perfected his style after a brief flirtation with Cubism. On a trip to Italy, Rivera became fascinated by ancient Roman frescoes, and when he returned to Mexico, he was commissioned to paint a large mural at the University of Mexico, the first of many projects that would catapult him to fame as an artist.
Although Diego Rivera is known to have married Frida Kahlo, she was not his first nor last wife. In 1922 he married Guadalupe Marin, with whom he had two children, and remained married to her for five years before traveling to Russia and returning to meet Kahlo. During their marriage, Rivera traveled to numerous parts of the world, working on murals for the public, and the two were also very active in the Mexican Communist Party. He was devastated by the death of his wife in 1954, but remarried again in 1955 to Emma Hurtado, his former art dealer, and the two remained married until his death.
Diego Rivera’s distinct style incorporates elements of traditional Mexican folk art, which include bright, beautiful colors and portraits of ordinary people going about everyday activities. Some of his most famous works include portraits of flower sellers, farmers and workers and are amazing glimpses into daily life in Mexico. However, Rivera also painted highly political works, including portraits of revolutionaries, protests, and moments in Mexican history, which is why he is remembered and idolized by many aspiring and Latin American artists.
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