The Hammock

Sometimes works of art do not need deep interpretation to understand where the painter was coming from or going with his/her thoughts.

More often, these artists bring out their prowess with the brush and paint at their disposal: Though some paintings are inspired, some are proof of professionalism and would look good hanging on a wall somewhere. As a lover of art, you fall in love with a painter's creativity and leave the artistic eye for another day.

Diego Rivera is one of the Mexican artists who made sure he tried to influence lovers of art through his paintings. With a soft but well-coordinated combination of colors, he made sure that there was a clear distinction of tones and shades of the used hues. He was one of the famous painters in the mid-1950s who did not direct his thoughts into a specific direction but tried to balance his scope painting landscapes, nature, indigenous Mexicans and even portraits.

The Hammock is one of the paintings he did with a gratitude attachment pinned on it. It so happened that after he received medical treatment in Moscow, he failed to get to his place to recuperate. As a result, he ended up in a Samaritan’s house who decided to offer him room to rest for a couple of days.

Dolores Olmedo, Rivera's host, lived in Acapulco; a major seaport in Mexico near La Quebrada which boasts of a cliff where professional divers plunge in an ocean clove day and night. The painter decided to paint his host’s daughter and a friend resting on a hammock. The soft colors used in the painting and the fine edges on each element bring out the contrasting colors effortlessly. Being a professional landscape painter, Rivera paints a beautiful background of Acapulco bay behind the two ladies who seemingly should be studying, thanks to the book painted beneath the hammock. He also brings out a good balance in this painting dividing the painting artistically without either of the characters struggling to remain on top; a perfect 3D painting.

When you look at the painting, it is evident that the painter was not in a hurry to complete his work. He took his time to polish the finer details on the females’ extremities just like he did with some of his famous works including ‘Sunset 15’ ‘Portrait of Dolores Olmedo (La Tehuana)’ and ‘Tahitian Woman With a Flower.' His influence also relates to some painters who similarly had the same line of thought including David Alfaro Siqueiros with ‘The Dance Of The Rain,' Marc Chagall's ‘Portrait of Vava’ and Roberto Montenegro’s ‘Tehuana.' The Hammock is from the collection of Museo Dolores Olmedo in Mexico City.