From the years 1936 to 1939, Jose Clemente Orozco painted “Hidalgo” on the ceilings of the National Palace. Now in his fifties, he was at a later stage of his painting career and was well known and respected. He was invited to paint in the National Palace building in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The focal point of the painting is the exaggeratingly enormous portrait of Miguel Hidalgo, the leader of the Mexican War of Independence. Hidalgo is wearing traditional Catholic priest attire; all black. His outfit contributes to the dark, fiery, and ominous tone. As he’s looking up, he has his fist up towards the sky in solidarity with the many Mexican soldiers and civilians fighting alongside him in the War of Independence. He also holds a fiery red stick, lighting the way towards independence from Spain and revealing complete turmoil. Behind him are circular brush strokes creating some sort of halo from Catholic iconography. Orozco may have alluded to Hidalgo’s execution, making him a martyr. Right below Hidalgo, red flags wave representing the blood lost by national heroes which is represented in the Mexican flag. Below that, Orozco uses shades of greys and blues to depict those lives that were not only lost in the War of Independence but the Mexican Revolution, where two million Mexicans were killed. Some of the body’s seem to swirl into each other. On the left side of Hidalgo, theres a large cross representing the Catholic church’s influence. Hidalgo seems to protect against black shadows which are weapons thrown by Nazi’s and Communists which is inferred by the swastikas and hammers and sickles. Orozco added this to acknowledge the rise of authoritarian regimes and the havoc they caused in the world and Mexico.
Jose Clemente Orozco reveres Hidalgo for his effort in Mexico’s independence. He uses dark reds, greys, and black to emphasize the fiery and murderous chaos that is Mexico’s upbringing.
