Self-study
P1
The contemporary Mexican artistic movement known as muralism, a movement of public art that began with images painted on walls in an effort to represent Mexican national culture, is closely linked ideologically with its main sponsor, the new Mexican government elected in 1920 following the Mexican Revolution. ████ ██████████ ████████ ██ █████████ ████████ ████████ ███ ███ █████ █████████████ █████ ██████ ██ ███████ ██ ███████ ████████ ████████ ███ ████████████ ███
Intro topic ·
Muralism (Mexican art movement involving images representing Mexican culture)
Linked to Mexican government following Mexican Revolution, which called on artists to show good things about Mexico.
Theoretical foundation of Muralism ·
Idea that art should incorporate images and familiar ideas while commenting on contemporary historical period
Major muralist artists brought in customs, myths, and history of local communities that form the basis of Mexican national culture.
P2
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Clarification about Muralism ·
Not just formulaic government-sponsored art; reflects innovations in art world
Muralists used a realist style, but were freer in their expression than other realist artists.
P3
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Style of Muralists ·
Muralists developed own distinct styles
Rivera incorporated elements of pre-Columbian sculpture and Italian Renaissance. Orozco had more expressionist style. Siquieros was similar to Orozco, but had some stylistic differences. (Need to come back for the details of the style differences if questions ask about this; not worth trying to remember.)
P4
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Cause of stylistic experimentation ·
Moving to new medium (large walls) led to experimentation
Muralists moved from small easel paintings to large compositions on walls. Muralists had to use larger brush gestures. They also had to make their work viewable from many different angles.
Passage Style
Single position
Spotlight
2.
The author mentions Rivera's use ██
Question Type
Purpose in context (of word, phrase, or idea)
Structure
To understand the purpose of this line, look at the beginning of the paragraph that contains it. We’re told that Mexican muralists “developed their own distinct styles.” Then we get a description of Rivera’s style, Orozco’s style, and Siquieros’s style. So the purpose of describing the pre-Columbian and Italian Renaissance elements of Rivera’s work is to show one muralist’s distinct style.
a
assimilation of elements ██ ███████ ███████ ███ ████
The purpose is to show Rivera’s distinct style. The assimilation of elements of Mexican customs and myth isn’t part of the point made by P3.
b
movement beyond single, ███████████ ████████
The purpose is to show Rivera’s distinct style. The idea of moving beyond centralized subjects isn’t part of the point made by P3.
c
experimentation with expressionist ██████████
The purpose is to show Rivera’s distinct style. We are not told that Rivera’s style involved expressionist techniques or experimentation with expressionist techniques.
d
distinctive manner of ████████ ██████████
This best captures the purpose of describing the pre-Columbian and Italian Renaissance elements of Rivera’s style. P3 starts by noting that Mexican muralists developed distinct styles. The rest of the paragraph, including the line we’re being asked about, presents examples of stylistic elements of different Mexican muralists.
e
underlying resistance to ██████
The purpose is to show Rivera’s distinct style. We’re never told that Rivera opposed change in artistic styles or subject matter or anything. Don’t interpret the fact that he used elements from pre-Columbian and Italian Renaissance works as reflecting a resistance to change.