Creation

The creation painting is a very large one covering up to one thousand square feet. This was the first among Diego Rivera’s artwork to be commissioned by the government.

Rivera did this drawing between the year 1922 and 1923. The main theme of the drawing was a major focus on religion and also is based on its believes. The drawing consists of features that are up to twelve feet high; not in actual size but in relation to the drawing size and the size of drawing frame. The drawing is done by use of ancient tools that includes the melted wax on which the pigments are applied.

The drawing consists of a huge pipe which conceals it within the frame and various drawings which symbolise something. The main features of the drawing are the human beings on each side of the deep coloured frame work that resembles an altar. At the highest point above all the features is the drawing of the sun. Three hands point away from the sun in different directions and this is to symbolise the Divine Trinity. This according to Christianity is three in one hence the three hands all emerge from the same sun. All the hands seem to point down to the human features drawn.

Behind the altar is also another drawing of another individual who stretches out his hands as if to reach all the others. The drawing of the individual with fully stretched out hands is directly below the sun and it is to whom the middle hand among the three hands. At the base of the drawing is Eva and Adam both seated on opposite ends of the altar. Eva and Adam are human creatures that are believed by Christians to be the first human creatures. Unlike the rest of the other individuals, they are naked to resemble the Christian theme on disobedience.

All the nine drawings of individuals in these drawing in both sides of the altar are symbolic of various Christian values and virtues as thought in the religious beliefs. Starting from the left, they represent; love, hope and faith. The individuals from the right side represent prudence, justice and the believe of strength. The drawing and its symbolic is strictly in relation to religion and has no political philosophy at all. The drawing also symbolises living virtues taught in Christian religion. The artist himself was not pleased in this work at all since it depicted much of Italian technique.