Diego Rivera’s “El Venedor de Alcatraces” uses strong colors and stylized, densely composed forms to portray a native Mexican peasant, representative of the burden borne by that country’s working class. Rivera (1886 – 1957) supported revolutionary politics, and strove to convey his ideal of a socialist utopia to Mexicans through frescoes which depicted Mexico’s history and social challenges. Creating art that would be easily accessible to working class people, Rivera revived outdoor mural painting, depicting historical scenes as tributes to folk traditions, making him one of Mexico’s most adored and influential artists.

© Art.com