The artwork, “Panel 13. Cortez and the Cross – The Epic of American Civilization,” was created by José Clemente Orozco between 1932 and 1934. It belongs to the Muralism art movement and falls under the genres of history painting and symbolic painting. This piece is part of the greater series “The Epic of American Civilization (Dartmouth College Cycle)” created during 1932-1934.
In this mural, a commanding and somber atmosphere is conveyed through the depiction of Hernán Cortés, a figure central to the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Dressed in armor, Cortés stands assertively beside a monumental black cross, which symbolizes the imposition of Christianity upon Indigenous peoples. To his left, a priestly figure holds a sword, signifying the violent spread of religion. The background is charged with chaos and destruction, as ships burn and structures crumble, illustrating the turmoil that followed the conquest. The foreground displays a portrayal of a defeated and suffering Indigenous person, capturing the human cost of this historical encounter. The entire composition is rendered in a stark, dramatic style, characteristic of Orozco’s powerful and often critical murals.
