Journal 4

Man, Controller of the Universe Painting by Diego Rivera Journal 4, Part A: Diego Rivera might have been trying to express what he was going through in his life, his political viewpoint of what was happening during his time and how he might have viewed his Mexican background. My other thoughts on his painting are that his work of art seems to incorporate so many contrasting colors and images. My thoughts on this are that they represent the many races and perhaps religions which exist today. I think Rivera might have imagined that the modern world would have differences in most things; race and religion. The four images behind the man seem to be representing crossroads. I think the images behind the man represent the many paths people today choose in order to be in one religion or state. The man painted in the middle of these paths is representing all the races in the world and possibly religions.
Part B:
Rivera’s work of art seemed to be representing the cultural wars that exist today. In the early 100’s Rivera was at the time an icon for transactions of cultures between the people in Central and North America. This painting was one of his controversial arts which he intended to be an eye opener for Americans; to be culturally diverse and accept the different aspects and opinions which existed in the world (Neimark 6).
His painting incorporates lively and contrasting colors and his concern for texture seem overwhelming. His style of painting can best be termed as New Realism since it is far from representing the academic world and naturalism in the old world (Neimark 68). The man who is at the centre of this painting is Lenin who was the founder of Soviet Union; he is symbolically clasping the hands of future allies; a worker, a black American and a white Russian soldier.
Work Cited:
Neimark, Anne E. Diego Rivera, the Artist of the People. New York Harper Collins Publishers, 1. 2000.