Mexican Muralism: Three women who shaped the movement
Today, at MAG The Women Gallery we shine a spotlight on three visionary artists who helped redefine the world of Mexican muralism with their distinct approaches and boundless creativity.
After more than a hundred years of the emergence of Mexican muralism, it’s important to appreciate that it was not a homogeneous movement. Each artist brought a unique perspective, with distinct styles and dynamics, contributing to the richness and diversity of the movement.
Although not all the artists were of Mexican origin, the influence of Mexican culture and history on this movement is undeniable. The movement’s strengthen in the early 20th century made it one of the most well-known, becoming an iconographic reference for Mexican culture and shaping the visual imagination of national identity.
Here we present you three remarkable women artists who helped shaped the Muralism Movement: Fanny Rabel, Leonora Carrington, and Rina Lazo.
Fanny Rabel and the creation of a new human being:
Born in Lodz, Poland (1922), Fanny Rabel centered her work on the portrayal of human tragedy. Her most prominent subjects were children, women, and the theme of emancipation.
“La Ronda del tiempo” (1965) Author: Fanny Rabel
Rabel focused her work on social criticism, breaking free from the ideological and aesthetic dogmatism of her time. She participated in collective exhibitions of women artists and actively supported feminist groups, challenging a social landscape that sought to restrict women’s freedom in the 1970s and 1980s.
With honesty and consistency, the artist sought to explore humanity’s weaknesses in her work. She tackled issues such as selfishness, hypocrisy, violence, and the excessive desire for power, while also proposing a new model of human being—one capable of forming intimate, empathetic, and peaceful relationships. This ideal was especially embodied in the women she lovingly depicted in her lithographs and linocuts throughout her career, particularly during the 1950s.
Leonora Carrignton, A rebel with a Cause in Mexican Muralism
Alongside Frida Kahlo and Remedios Varo, Leonora Carrington is recognized as one of the three most influential artists in Mexican muralism. However, despite her fame during her lifetime, she remains relatively underappreciated in the broader history of art.
“Artes 110” (1944) Author: Leonora Carrington
Born in England in 1917, after a tumultuous journey through a war-torn Europe, Leonora Carrington arrived in Mexico in the early 1940s, where she created most of her artwork.
Her style reflects multiple references to both Celtic and Mexican mythology, fueled by her deep interest in mysticism and the sacred. As a result, she developed a highly personal style, blending diverse cultural influences and finding her place within the surrealist imagination.
Rina Lazo and her Ode to Mayan culture in Mexican Muralism:
Rina Lazo is one of the foremost figures in Mexican muralism. Born in Guatemala in 1923, she was exposed to the world of the arts from a very young age, developing her passion for it through her maternal grandfather.
Tierra Fértil (1954) Author: Rina Lazo
Around 1945, new ideas of social and political consciousness began to emerge in Guatemala, where Rina Lazo participated in various artistic initiatives. By 1946, she arrived in Mexico City, driven by her desire to learn the fresco technique, she took classes with renowned masters from Diego Rivera’s circle, including Diego Rivera himself.
Rina Lazo was a leading figure in Mexican muralism and one of the most significant social movements in contemporary history. She developed an original artistic style, known for her sharp powers of observation and the use of poetic metaphors, brought to life through a palette of bright yet subtle colors. Above all, her work reflects a deep knowledge of and empathy for Mayan culture, to which she dedicated much of her artistic career.
As we can see, themes of feminist self-empowerment and tribute to Mexican culture have been central to the work of these three women artists. They created their art within a social and political landscape that required women to be decisive and, despite limitations, to fight for their ideals and convictions.
At MAG The Women Gallery, we are pleased to have highlighted the strength of female artists through our publications celebrating their remarkable careers
Source:
Gobierno de México: A un siglo de muralismo
Gobierno de México: Recuerdan legado de Fanny Rabel a cien años de su nacimiento
Gobierno de México: Rina Lazo, artista fundamental en la historia del muralismo mexicano
Rina Lazo Muralista Mesoamericana: Biografía
Rina Lazo Muralista Mesoamericana: Tierra FértilHistoria Arte: Leonora Carrington