Flower Day

Diego Rivera, Flower Day, 1925, Ades pg. 197

This painting by Diego Rivera shows the Mexican spirit despite the reality of their social, economic and historical burdens.

Most Americans love the cultural experiences that they have had with Mexicans because of the happiness and warmth that they give. The Mexican spirit is beautifully displayed with a wide variety of vibrant colors transmitting the loving happiness of the Mexican culture. Traditional clothing and braids depict the exotic culture cherished by so many. Lastly, the lovely calla lilies create a national symbol that all Mexicans can identify with. For example my wife did not use a traditional bouquet in our wedding; she only used a few eloquent calla lilies.

Mexico is traditionally known as a chauvinistic country where the wife carries out all of the burdens of the home. The faces of men can be seen in the background watching a woman carry a large and presumably heavy basket of flowers, while two other women kneel in the dirt working, as one even carries a baby on her back. More importantly than showing the traditional responsibilities of Mexican women is the representation of their strength, sacrifice and dedication to the family.

Many Americans cannot and will not ever understand the poverty of Mexico and other Latin countries. It is hard to imagine hope and or happiness in a situation like theirs, yet anyone who has spent significant time with a Mexican knows of the joy they find in life. The women in the painting are working in the street without shoes representing their poverty, but their incredibly clean clothes show the hope, happiness and joy that the Mexican can find in any situation.

Flowers, and especially calla lilies, were very important to the Mexican Indians and are sometimes used to symbolize them. The woman carrying the lilies could represent one of two things. Either the Mexican carrying the burden of their roots from their Indian past and the conquest for the pessimist, or the Mexican carrying along the memory and tradition of their Indian past for the optimist. I personally like to believe in the second.