The artwork titled “Woman at a Well,” created by Diego Rivera in 1913, is an oil painting on canvas that exemplifies the Cubist art movement. This genre painting is a part of the collection at the Museo Nacional de Antropología (MNA) in Mexico City, Mexico.
In this image, the fragmented and angular forms typical of Cubism are evident. The composition features a woman by a well, a timeless and universal subject in art that captures the simple, everyday act of drawing water. However, true to the Cubist style, the scene is abstracted; shapes and forms interlock and overlap in a complex arrangement, breaking from traditional perspective and representational fidelity. The color palette is restrained but includes splashes of brighter hues, contributing to the overall harmony of the picture. The use of light and dark contrasts helps to emphasize the geometric forms and adds depth to the two-dimensional canvas.
Diego Rivera’s rendition of the woman and her surroundings is stylized, focusing on the synthesis of forms and planes rather than realistic portrayal, a hallmark of the genre painting in the Cubist movement. The inclusion of natural elements like the bird and flowers, juxtaposed with geometric abstractions, shows Rivera’s unique interpretation of Cubism, which often incorporated elements of his cultural heritage.
