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Modern Art
Art allows for a representation of thoughts and ideas in a way that provides a hidden meaning. For that reason, like contemporary art, modern art act as a mirror in the society. Although modern art is associated with the artwork produced after the 18thcentury, it was an essential way through which artists communicated about their thoughts in the community through painting, performance art, and sculpture. Artwork allows viewers to think for themselves and can teach at a different level that cannot be reached by words.
Through viewing modern art from various museums’ websites, Diego Rivera’s artwork from the website of the San Francisco Museum for modern art captured my attention. Although different artwork were present in the website such as sculptures, prints, photographs, and other paintings, it was only The Flowers Carrier in the paintings section by Diego Rivera that stirred my mind attracting my interest to know why the artist painted it. From the description, the painting was done on Masonite and stacked on the wall. It was a colorful painting of a man on all his fours on the floor carrying a large basket of flowers by his back and supported by his head with a sling (“Diego Rivera, The Flower Carrier, 1935 · SFMOMA”). Behind him was a lady, a wife may be, who seemed to be helping him stand. The painting had a title at its bottom; The Flowers Carrier. Through the color of the flowers on the man’s back, it was evident that they were beautiful. I wanted to know why the man was carrying the heavy basket of flowers and not the woman. I also to get the reasons why even though the bucket was full of bright flowers, the man did not seem right; he was not happy with them.
Upon getting more profound on the painting of The Flowers Carrier painting and relating it to what I have learned in class, it was evident that Diego Rivera aimed at communicating something to the viewers. For that reason, the painting had used the social-realistic style. In painting and printmaking art, artists use the social realism style to help viewers be attentive to the social-political conditions in their living. The artist for The Flowers Carrier also uses the social realism style to create a candid painting that would expose human flows within its era of creation. The setting of the picture is also an indication of slavery, giving the viewers a reason to think more beyond the image in the painting.
From the additional descriptions provided below the painting on the website, the artwork is created on a Masonite. Oil and tempera could also be the medium used (“Diego Rivera, The Flower Carrier, 1935 · SFMOMA”). Reason for the support that oil and tempera acted as the medium when the painting was the clarity and glowing were coming from the picture. From classwork, we learned that oil dries well, allowing for a painting to glow and have a more naturalistic development. Besides, oil dries with a depth color, and when applied using various complexity when painting, it results in a different meaning. Moreover, since the date of the painting creation, it remained bright, indicating that tempera could have been mixed with oil to increase the painting durability. Masonite material is less likely to break or split after installation, thus use of it as the material on which painting was done increases the painting durability.
Through critically evaluating and thoughtful consideration, it is evident that the art has a meaning. The man on the ground carrying a large basket full of beautiful flowers on his back and a woman behind him trying to help in supporting the basket as he attempts to stand resembles laborers in modern capitalist society. For whom despite their hard work cannot enjoy the fruits of their labor due to greed on the politicians and leaders just as the man who cannot delight in the colorful flowers strapped on his back since they are causing him more harm than benefit. The colors used in the painting for the woman and the man stand out, allowing the viewer to get a clear definition of how the people in the society is are different due to class.
The flower carrier painting work by Diego Rivera is modern art. It was created in the 19th century, and its meaning relates to the issues affecting the society up to date (“Diego Rivera, The Flower Carrier, 1935 · SFMOMA”). Besides, the use of Masonite and oil as materials in the painting also makes it modern since such solids could not be available in the 17th century. Unlike other works of Rivera, such as Contact for Price, colors have been using in the painting to make it more glowing and bright. Additionally, the painting art style is more developed to create meaning, unlike cubism and surrealism styles in the past. The object relates to the individualism movement. The society wanted to be freed from the selfishness of their leaders due to increase slavery. Up to date, the leaders are still greed making the painting a valid work of art since its meaning also exists in modern society. The artwork is a reflection of the continuing oppression of the poor in the community, indicating the reasons for corrupt activities by the leaders for whom citizens look up to so that they can enhance equality.
Works Cited
“Diego Rivera, The Flower Carrier, 1935 · SFMOMA”. Sfmoma.Org, https://www.sfmoma.org/artwork/35-4516/.