The history of art Mexico

The history of art in Mexico dates back to pre-Hispanic times, when Mesoamerican civilizations developed a rich artistic culture that was expressed in architecture, sculpture, ceramics, painting, and decorative arts.

Prehispanic era

The Mayans, Aztecs, Toltecs, Mixtecs, and other Mesoamerican peoples built great pyramids, temples, palaces, and cities, which are testament to their architectural prowess. They also created monumental sculptures of gods, kings and warriors, as well as ceramics and paintings of great beauty and expressiveness.

Among the most outstanding works of pre-Hispanic art are:

     The pyramid of the sun in Teotihuacán, the pyramid of Kukulkan in Chichén Itzá, the pyramid of the Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan and the city of Palenque.
     The Chac Mool sculpture in Chichén Itzá, the Coatlicue sculpture in the National Museum of Anthropology and the Xochipilli sculpture in the National Museum of Anthropology.
     Ceramics from Colima, ceramics from Oaxaca and ceramics from Monte Albán.
     The Bonampak murals, the Teotihuacán murals and the pre-Hispanic codices.

Virreinal time

The arrival of the Spanish in Mexico in 1521 marked a new period in the country's art history. The conquistadors introduced Christian art, which was mixed with indigenous artistic traditions to give rise to a new style, known as New Spanish art.

New Spanish art was characterized by its decorative richness and its use of materials such as gold, silver and stucco. It developed especially in architecture, sculpture and painting.

Among the most outstanding works of New Spanish art are:

     The Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City, the National Palace of Mexico City and the Temple of San Francisco in Mexico City.
     The sculptures of Miguel Ángel Cabrera, José de la Cruz and Antonio González Velázquez.
     The paintings of Miguel Cabrera, Cristóbal de Villalpando and Miguel Ángel Espinosa.

independent time

In the early 19th century, Mexico gained its independence from Spain. This event gave rise to a new period in the country's art history, characterized by a growing interest in European art.

In this period, new artistic trends were developed, such as romanticism, realism and positivism. There was also a rise in nationalism, which was reflected in art, which focused on Mexican themes.

Among the most outstanding works of art of the independent period are:

     The painting "The death of Morelos" by José María Obregón.
     The painting "The Virgin of Guadalupe" by Juan Cordero.
     The painting "The cry of Dolores" by José María Velasco.

Twentieth century

The 20th century was a period of great renewal in Mexican art. In this period, muralism emerged, an artistic movement that was characterized by the representation of social and political issues in large murals.

The most prominent Mexican muralists were Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros. His works are found in important museums and public buildings in Mexico and the world.

In addition to muralism, other artistic trends also developed in Mexico in the 20th century, such as popular art, neo-Mexicanism, and contemporary art.

Popular art

Mexican folk art is an artistic expression that is based on the cultural traditions of indigenous peoples. It is characterized by its color, its originality and its strong Mexican identity.

Mexican popular art includes a wide variety of manifestations, such as ceramics, painting, sculpture, goldsmithing, textiles, and music.

neomexicanism

Neo-Mexicanism is an artistic movement that emerged in the 1920s. It is characterized by the recovery of indigenous artistic traditions and the reinterpretation of pre-Hispanic motifs and symbols.

The most prominent New Mexican artists were Roberto Montenegro, Xavier Guerrero, and Juan O'Gorman.

Contemporary art

Mexican contemporary art is an artistic expression that is characterized by its diversity and its experimentation with new forms and materials.

Some of the most outstanding contemporary Mexican artists are Francisco Toledo, Rufino Tamayo, José Luis Cuevas, Gabriel Orozco and Enrique Metinides.

Mexican art is a rich and diverse artistic expression that reflects the history and culture of the country.