Revolutionary Dreams: Modern Mexican Prints

The Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) evolved from the integration of capitalism in Mexico by Porfirio Diaz. The working class began to revolt with aspirations of democracy due to the abuse of political power, lack of local autonomy and increasing divide of social classes. This divide caused a lack of coherence in Mexico’s national identity.

Revolutionary Dreams: Modern Mexican Prints features major artists such as Leopoldo Mendez, Rufino Tamayo, and Diego Rivera who explored the identity of native pre-colonial Mexico. They sought to expose the social reality of the working class during the Mexican Revolution, using references of Mexican Folklore, Magical Realism and Surrealism.

Liga de Escritores y Artistas Revolucionarios and Taller de Grafica Popular were two organizations founded in Mexico that held an important cultural role with the revival of printmaking, an affordable medium for all social classes. These prints were selected from the Museum’s permanent collection.

Whether you go or no, you can read about Mexican revolutionary print-making in Mexico and Modern Printmaking: A Revolution in the Graphic Arts, 1920 to 1950.

And learn about the history and understand the conflict in The Mexican Revolution: A Brief History with Documents (Bedford Cultural Editions Series)