Diego Rivera?s Ford Mural

[Ryan]

Jive-Bomber over on The Jalopy Journal stumbled upon a jewel this morning and I thought I would share it with you all as well. Essentially, it's photos of the mural that Mexican a...

 

[uncle max]

I've found my new living-room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom wallpaper!

 

[jimTN]

There was one of these mosiacs in the Cincinnati airport in one of USAIR'S terminals, very impressive.

 

[Lawrie]

I have them in my library,got them from the detroit arts place a few years ago. they have all sorts of realy fine details if you look closely,for instance.in the pic with the chassis, way down the back above the worker with the fender on his shoulder there is a little red coupe
Lawrie

 

[Grapejuice]

Why does it have a Bowtie in the window?

 

[PeteVS]

...in the pic with the chassis, way down the back above the worker with the fender on his shoulder there is a little red coupe
Lawrie

I didn't find a guy with a fender on his shoulder. Did find a guy either rolling a bead or spot welding on a fender. Maybe it's a guy handling a body or truck cab?
Questions:
1. Was there a "visitor's gallery" at the Rouge?
2. The mural was commissioned in 1932 but painted in '33 or '34? Chassis on the assembly line has '33 - '34 "X" member frame and rear shocks mounted on the inside of the frame.

 

[34flathead]

that is very cool.thanks Jive-Bomber and Ryan for finding it and posting it.
rich

 

[Milt K from Pa]

that is very cool.thanks Jive-Bomber and Ryan for finding it and posting it.
rich

I dont think most are aware that Rivera was a flaming communist and Henry Ford wanted the paintings removed. I believe I have these facts straight. Any comments?

Milt K from Pa

 

[Tudortomnz]

The Diego Rivera frescoes at the Detroit Institute of Art were partly funded by Edsel Ford & when public opinion to them was hostile, Edsel refused to have them screened or obscured. It was due to him that they survive, unlike the ones done at Rockerfeller Centre which were destroyed.
It is doubtful that Henry Ford would have been bothered by the artists political leanings [ Ford sold a complete factory & cars to Russia] & he laid on Ford cars for the use of Rivera & his wife, Frida Kahlo while they were in Detroit.
[This from 'Ford' by R Lacey.]

 

[LukeDahlinger]

Henry Ford didn't care for art at all. He was known to say "I wouldn't give 5 cents for all the art in the world."

Not only did Edsel Ford finance this work by Riviera he also personally paid many of the employees at Detroit Institute of Arts when public money was tight during the Depression.