The artwork titled “Reaching Out” by Jose Clemente Orozco, created in 1924 in Mexico City, Mexico, is a fresco that belongs to the Muralism art movement and falls under the genre of symbolic painting.
The artwork portrays two hands descending from the top of the fresco, each gently placing a coin into what appears to be a lockbox, symbolizing perhaps an act of donation or bribery. Below the lockbox, another hand reaches upwards, open and likely symbolic of a plea or need. The overall palette is subdued, with tones of brown and gray dominating the scene, emphasizing the somber and possibly critical nature of the scene depicted. The arrangement and size of the hands, larger than life, underscore their symbolic weight, drawing the viewer’s attention to questions of charity, justice, or corruption. The mural, typical of Orozco’s style, carries a strong social message, resonating with the principles of the Muralism movement which aimed to make art accessible and reflective of social issues.
