Diego Rivera
By: Ashley Diskin

Diego Rivera was born on December 8, 1886 in Guanajuato , Mexico. He created a work of art entitled "Man of the Crossroads". The painting consisted of fiery colors including red, orange, yellow, blue, green and grey. A man in the center is controlling a type of machine with wings of different weathers, fruits, space, and planets. Under that machine, plants are sprouting out of the dirt. Many people are shown in the background of this picture as well as a huge tire. It seems as thought Diego Rivera was trying to portray life. The man in the middle represents an average person dealing with every day hardships. The people are either temptations, enemies, challenges, or even some means of support. Each wing shows a part of life: the bottom left wing is our solar system, the top left is fruit and nuts showing wholesomeness, the top right wing is full of spirits and guardian angels, the bottom right wing is a view through a microscope showing the inner workings of life. In the top left corner men with guns and gas masks are marching toward the scared and angry people in the right corner. This scene shows taht everyone fears something, and they will fight for what they believe in. The huge hand in the middle is holding the world meaning that the world could possibly be ruled by a single person. the glass ball also represents how fragile our world is. the plants sprouting up from the ground shows a new beginning and growth. the big wheels in the background represent time as it turns from the past to the present and into the future. I like this painting because it shows the truth. Life isn't always perfect, but we can always get through it. Our world may look fragile on the outside but when you take a closer look of all its components then you realize how strong and mechanical it truly is.

Other Paintings by Diego Rivera