Pencil on paper
Mexico, 1923
Diego Rivera (1886-1957) – Mexican painter and draughtsman
Signed and dated in pencil lower right ‘D. Rivera 23’
Accompanied by a letter of authentication, signed by Enrique Navas Pincon, Director of Galeria Europa, Colombia
Matted
Dimensions: 13 x 9 ¼ in. (33 x 23.5 cm.)
Overall dimensions: 20 x 16 in. (50.8 x 40.6 cm.)
Very good condition

Known for his exaltation of Mexican culture, this drawing features Diego Rivera’s signature muralist style. “Mother Earth” is depicted at center, her arms filled with the life she creates and sustains. Farmers and workers stand alongside trees, fruits and industry, representing all facets of the artist’s home country. Although the forms are relatively simplistic, the drawing is rich with detail and activity.

Executed in 1923, this pencil on paper is signed and dated in pencil lower right. The work is accompanied by a letter of authentication, signed and dated by Enrique Navas Pincon, the director of Galeria Europa, Colombia, with the gallery’s blind stamp. The work is in overall good condition with no evidence of tears or repairs.

Diego Rivera (Mexican, 1886-1957)

Most well-known for his large-scale frescoes, Diego Rivera was born in Guanajuato, Mexico and was encouraged to explore his artistic talents from a young age. He attended the Academy of San Carlos in Mexico City at the age of ten and continued his studies abroad in Madrid and Paris in 1907 where he met numerous significant artists like Amedeo Modigliani and Moïse Kisling. Stylistically, Rivera adopted Cubism from 1913 until he transitioned to Post-Impressionism in 1917. After 1921, Rivera returned to Mexico to join a government sponsored mural program and began creating frescoes reflecting Mexican society, Aztec inspirations, and radical politics. In 1931, the Museum of Modern Art, New York, hosted a retrospective of the artist. His work can be found in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, Hermitage Museum, Museum of Modern Art, and Museo Diego Rivera.