David Alfaro Siqueiros papers, 1920-1991 (bulk 1930-1936)

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Summary

Creators:
Siqueiros, David Alfaro
Abstract:
A leading member of the Mexican muralist movement and a technical innovator of fresco and wall painting. The collection consists almost entirely of manuscripts, some in many drafts, others fragmentary, the bulk of which date from the mid-1930s, when Siqueiros traveled to Los Angeles, New York, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo, returning intermittently to Mexico City. A significant portion of the papers concerns Siqueiros's public disputes with Diego Rivera; there are manifestos against Rivera, eye-witness accounts of their public debate, and newspaper coverage of the controversy. There is also material regarding the murals América Tropical, Mexico Actual and Ejercicio Plastico, including one drawing and a few photographs. The Experimental Workshop in New York City is also documented.
Extent:
2.11 Linear Feet (6 boxes)
Language:
Collection material is in Spanish; Castilian and English

Background

Scope and content:

The David Alfaro Siqueiros Papers contain one rare serial from 1921 Spain, and otherwise consist almost entirely of manuscripts, some in many drafts, others fragmentary, the bulk of which date from the mid-1930s, when Siqueiros traveled to Los Angeles, New York, Buenos Aires and Montevideo, returning intermittently to Mexico City. Often he gathered teams of artists to work with him on creating murals and developing new techniques and implements for mural painting. Marxist theory as interpreted by the Communist Party guided Siqueiros in these artistic endeavors, and the collection contains a number of manifestos demonstrating how he integrated art and ideology in the organization of his workshops, in his theory of Mexican muralism, and in his painting. A significant portion of the papers concern Siqueiros's public disputes with Rivera; there are manifestos against Rivera, eye-witness accounts of their public debate, and newspaper coverage of the controversy. There is also material regarding the murals America Tropical, Mexico Actual, and Ejercicio Plastico, including one drawing and a few photographs. The Experimental Workshop in New York City is also documented.

These papers were entrusted to, and partly created by, Bolivian artist Roberto Berdecio, Siqueiros's assistant and friend, who kept them for about 40 years. Unless otherwise noted, materials in the archive are by Siqueiros. Where the date of an undated manuscript is reasonably certain, it has been included in the first four series; where the date is not known, the manuscripts have been included in Series V. Miscellaneous. Due to the challenges of dating this material, where a date is written on the item, it is included on the inventory even if it repeats the date of the grouping under which it is cataloged.

Arrangement note

The papers are organized in 5 series: Series I. Spain/Mexico, 1210-1991;Series II. Los Angeles, 1932, undated;Series III. South America, 1933;Series IV. New York, 1934-1977, undated;Series V. Miscellanous and fragmentary manuscripts, undated.

Biographical / historical:

David Alfaro Siqueiros was a leading member of the Mexican muralist movement and a technical innovator of fresco and wall painting. His ideological differences with Diego Rivera attracted much attention in the 1930s.

Acquisition information:
Acquired in 1996.
Physical location:
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Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1688, US
Contact:
(310) 440-7390
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