“Panel 5. The Coming of Quetzalcoatl – The Epic of American Civilization” is a profound mural created by José Clemente Orozco, spanning the years 1932 to 1934. This artwork belongs to the Muralism movement and serves as a symbolic and historical painting within the series “The Epic of American Civilization” located at Dartmouth College.
The artwork unveils a complex narrative through its vivid imagery and intricate composition. Dominating the upper portion, a majestic figure with an otherworldly presence, presumably Quetzalcoatl, gestures with an authoritative stance, surrounded by a dense array of symbolic entities and lightning bolts, evoking a sense of divine intervention and cosmic drama. The lower half portrays a somber scene of indigenous individuals, suggesting themes of suffering, submission, and salvation. The juxtaposition of these scenes highlights the fusion of mythological grandeur and human struggle, encapsulating Orozco’s reflective discourse on civilization, culture, and the pervasive impact of ideological forces on the human condition.
