Art Criticism By Cassandra Ramirez

“Zapatistas” Jose Clemente Orozco Oil on Canvas, 1931

DESCRIPTION The painting “Zapatistas” by Jose Clemente Orozco was painted in the year of 1931. The mediums used were oil on canvas. In “Zapatistas” there are a small group of men and women marching to some place. About four men are riding on horses while the rest are walking. Some of the men are holding something that appears to swards. The women are way in the back following the men. The majority of the colors used in the painting are warm colors like brown, tan, red, and orange. There’re highlights on the sombreros of the men and on the covers the women are wearing, including the rocks and mountains.

ANALYSIS Jose Clemente Orozco seemed to emphasized the four men who are leading the rest. He painted them a little bit bigger and let their faces show. Clemente also painted them on horses while he let the others walking. The darkish brown color of the sky shows that it was maybe a afternoon or early in the morning. The mountains can tell you that the people are not in a city but a small pueblo because there are not any city lights or cars.

INTERPRITATION I think the painting “Zapatistas” is about a group of people going to fight somewhere. The women are probably there to help the men that get hurt or to prepare the meals. The theme of the art work is maybe about the people of Mexico when they were in wars to get their independence. Jose Clemente Orozco shows this by how the men are dressed. The painting reminds me and makes me think of some of the old Mexican movies I’ve watched before that have to do with the independence and similar things like that.

JUDGEMENT I feel like the painting is a fine piece of art work. It probably was a great success when it first came out, but I feel that the artist could’ve added a few more details to make it more nice than it already is. Like for example he could have added more highlights and brighter colors to make it a bit less depressing and dark.