From a strictly aesthetic standpoint, what struck me most about Orozco’s The Epic of American Civilization was his use of bold, definitive sweeping lines. When considering this technique within the context of the piece, it struck me that this practice created a sense of motion in many of the panels. This is suiting, as it creates flow from panel to panel, reflecting the transition in time illustrated in the art as a recollection of American civilization.

From a historical standpoint, it is notable that Orozco reflects on the Spanish incursion into Mexico in both the Departure of Quetzacotal and Cortez and the Cross in a way that boldly depicts the negative sentiment felt by many Mexican’s towards this incursion. In commenting on another period of violence within Mexican history, Hispano-America depicts a variety of roles found within the Mexican Revolution (army general, Pancho Villa or any nameless revolutionary, businessmen clutching money). All of these characters are focused inwards, which I found intriguing, as perhaps this is Orozco reminding the viewer that the revolution is something strictly internal and self-caused.

I am also interested in his comments on communism and the make-up of revolution-era Mexico, as in the Test Piece and Modern Industrial Man he has depicted industrial life with a human aspects, perhaps as a commentary on the potentially disagreeable or limiting relationship between the common man and mass industry.