Assignment task: The American Regionalists and Mexican Muralists both celebrated their native cultural traditions. The American Regionalists portrayed the midwest as a repository of American virtues and values. Artists like Thomas Hart Benton, received WPA commissions for public buildings which further promoted the movement. The Mexican muralists also received state commission for public murals that celebrated Mexican culture and its history. Choose one work by an American Regionalist artist (Grant Wood or Thomas Hart Benton) and one work by a Mexican muralist (Jose Clemente Orozoco or Diego Rivera). Explain how the imagery and style illustrate the ideological nationalist goals of each movement.
Include the following aspects in the discussion:
- Artist's name, title, date, media of one American Regionalist painting/mural and artist's name, title, date and media of one Mexican mural.
- Describe the imagery and interpret the iconography.
- Explain the ideological goals of each movement