June 4 – October 9, 2016
“I will die a slave of principles not men.” –Emiliano Zapata).
The Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) evolved from the integration of capitalism in Mexico by Porfirio Diaz. The working class began to revolt with aspirations of democracy due to the abuse of political power, lack of local autonomy and increasing divide of social classes. This divide caused a lack of coherence in Mexico’s national identity. Revolutionary Dreams: Modern Mexican Prints features major artists such as Leopoldo Mendez, Rufino Tamayo, and Diego Rivera who explore the identity of native pre-colonial Mexico and expose the socio-reality of the working class during the Mexican Revolution using references of Mexican Folklore, Magical Realism and Surrealism for subject matter. Liga de Escritores y Artistas Revolucionarios and Taller de Grafica Popular were two organizations founded in Mexico that hold important cultural roles with the revival of the printmaking method, an affordable medium for all social classes. These prints were selected from the Museum’s permanent collection.
