“Panel 19. Modern Migration of the Spirit” is a fresco by the renowned artist José Clemente Orozco, created between 1932 and 1934 in Hanover, United States. This symbolic painting, part of the “The Epic of American Civilization (Dartmouth College Cycle)” series, is emblematic of the Muralism art movement. The artwork is housed in the Baker-Berry Library at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH.
The artwork presents a striking and vivid composition centered around a dynamic, almost skeletal male figure, illuminated in a brilliant yellow hue that symbolizes spiritual and intellectual enlightenment. The figure appears to be in a state of transformation or transcendence, poised with an axe and standing amidst a scene littered with symbols of modernity and war, including fragmented machinery and weapons. The background is a chaotic amalgamation of industrial debris and somber colors, emphasizing the struggle and destruction faced by contemporary society. An image of Buddha in repose contrasts this turmoil, suggesting a dichotomy between spiritual peace and material chaos. The mural captures the tension between destruction and enlightenment, a profound commentary on the modern human condition.
