Diego Rivera: The Complete Murals

This book showcases the remarkable journey of Diego Rivera, a beloved figure, Frida Kahlo's spouse, and a renowned Mexican artist. His expansive murals, showcasing societal transformation, continue to adorn public buildings in Mexico. The comprehensive photographs in this book were captured with scaffolding to ensure precise details of Rivera's murals are presented.

As a renowned figure in Latin America and one of Mexico's foremost artists, Diego Rivera (1886–1957) lived a fervent life committed to both art and communism. After a decade in Europe, where he immersed himself in the Cubist movement and surrounded himself with fellow artists, he returned to Mexico and began painting the monumental murals for which he is most renowned. Addressing social and political issues concerning the working class in his murals, he gained prophetic status among the peasants of Mexico. He was commissioned to create works abroad, including the controversial depiction of Lenin in his mural for the Rockefeller Center in New York City (which was ultimately destroyed before its completion). One of his most notable works is the 27 frescos comprising the 1932 Detroit Industry at the Detroit Institute of Art in Michigan.

This book showcases detailed views of the murals, providing a close analysis of their intricate components and subtle nuances. Alongside the murals, there is an extensive array of paintings, vintage photos, documents, and drawings from various public and private collections worldwide. Much of this material was previously unknown to researchers, and it is thanks to extensive studies that it is included here. The book also includes an illustrated biography and essays by esteemed art historians who offer their interpretations of each mural. This is the most comprehensive examination of Rivera's body of work to date, finally giving it the in-depth retrospective it deserves.