Museum Report: Diego Rivera's "la Siesta"

Museum Report: Diego Rivera's "La Siesta"

On Tuesday, November 2, 2004 I attended the San Antonio Museum of Art. The painting that left the most lasting impression was Diego Rivera's "La Siesta." The painting, a "snapshot" of indigenous Mexican life, had the biggest reaction because of my Mexican background. I also chose this painting because Diego Rivera was a Mexican artist.

Diego Rivera went through many artistic phases during his life and in his later years, Rivera focused his art works on the native culture of Mexico. This reoccurring theme can be seen in his painting "La Siesta." The reason that Rivera decided to place such emphasis on the Mexican culture was not only because it was self-satisfying for him but also to educate foreigners about the beauty behind his culture. He also wanted to inform others that there is a lot of arduous and laborious work that the ingenious people must do to stay alive. Although in this painting Rivera shows the leisurely side of Mexican's lives, with the mother and her children taking a "siesta" or nap. He also believed that the "popular style" art works that he created about everyday life would be more meaningful to his culture than