“Zapatista Landscape. The Guerrilla” is an oil on canvas painting by Diego Rivera, created in 1915. This piece is an example of Rivera’s engagement with Cubism, an art movement characterized by fragmentation and abstraction. Representing a landscape, this artwork is held at the Museo Nacional de Arte (MUNAL) located in Mexico City, Mexico. It depicts elements associated with the Zapatista movement within a cubist framework.
In the painting, Rivera utilizes sharp geometric shapes and a diverse palette to construct the image. The central figure seems to be a Zapatista guerrilla, as suggested by the title, depicted with cubist sensibilities. The figure is fragmented into multiple planes and shapes, challenging the viewer’s perception of depth and form. The sombrero and the rifle are two recognizable elements that anchor the figure’s identity as a guerrilla, while the surrounding shapes appear to construct a mountainous landscape, possibly alluding to the terrain of the Mexican Revolution. The colours are both earthy and vibrant, indicating not only the natural setting but also perhaps the cultural richness of Mexico. The composition reflects Cubism’s influence in redefining traditional perspectives on pictorial space and subject depiction.