Detroit Industry, North Wall
1932–33
Diego Rivera (Mexican, 1886–1957)
Fresco
Gift of Edsel B. Ford
33.10.N
Detroit Industry, South Wall
1932–33
Diego Rivera (Mexican, 1886–1957)
Fresco
Gift of Edsel B. Ford
33.10.S
The Detroit Industry fresco cycle in Rivera
Court is the finest example of Mexican muralist work in the United
States; Rivera
considered it the most successful work of his career. In
1932 when Rivera
was well known in the United States as one of the leaders of
the Mexican muralist movement, he was commissioned by Edsel
Ford, president
of the Arts Commission as well as of Ford Motor Company, and
Dr. William Valentiner, director of the DIA, to create
two murals for
the museum in its Garden Court.
The north and south walls are devoted to three
sets of images: the representation of the races that shape North
American culture
and make up its work force, the automobile industry, and the
other industries of Detroit (medical, pharmaceutical, and chemical).
At the bottom of the walls are small panels which depict the
sequence
of a day in the life of the workers at the Ford River Rouge
plant. The central panel of the north wall represents important
operations
in the production and manufacture of the engine and transmission
of the 1932 Ford V8. The major panel of the south wall is devoted
to the production of the automobile’s exterior.
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