Viewing page 2 of 7

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Florence Arquin 
August, 1942

Term Paper
"Diego Rivera's Murals"
for Modern Mexican Art
Prof. Justino Fernandez

Whether one likes or dislikes Diego Rivera and his work is neither important nor significant and in no way affects the continuity and development of art traditions in which Diego Rivera takes his place. One must recognize the stature of the man, his role in contemporary painting, his influence upon the life of his time and the art expression of his contemporaries both here in Mexico and in the U.S. 

certain it is that the revival of fresco painting in America, and the interest in mural decoration has been stimulated to a great degree by the work of this man. His very personal use of subject matter to present a social point of view, and often a political as well as historical comment, has been accepted by many less talented artists as a formula. Directly or indirectly it has given rise to the so-called "School of Social Significance" from which we have been suffering, not because subject matter per se is offensive, but because in painting subject matter, the artist has so often sacrificed aesthetic criteria and has used paint to express what might have been said equally well, if not more adequately in words. 

To what extent this phenomena will be indicative of the painting of our age depends upon the intelligence, integrity, sensitivity and artistic talent of those creating within these narrow