Renewed Legacy [José Clemente Orozco, José Luis Cuevas, and Notions of the Grotesque] (original) (raw)
While scholars have thoroughly examined José Clemente Orozco‟s (1883- 1949) importance as a Mexican Muralist and acknowledged his international acclaim, meager research exists concerning his influence on the following generation of Mexican artists. This thesis examines the relationship between Orozco and José Luis Cuevas (b. 1934) to establish a more comprehensive view of Orozco and his legacy. A comparative study of the ways both artists use the grotesque in their art—especially in their images of insane individuals, prostitutes, and sideshow performers—provides a framework to analyze points of tension and overlap in their artistic productions and personal philosophies. Too often Orozco's monumental works as a Mexican Muralist overshadow the distinction and defiance evident in his political cartoons, drawings and easel paintings. But, through Cuevas‟s perspective, we discover the many dimensions of Orozco‟s art and his relevance for a generation of Mexican figurative artists of the 1950s.