José Clemente Orozco

Mexican, 1883 - 1949

José Clemente Orozco was a caricaturist, printmaker, painter, and muralist. Born in Ciudad Guzmán, Orozco became an integral part of the Mexican Muralism Movement in the 1920s. The movement, which began after the Mexican Revolution, included public murals commissioned by the government to capture the country’s history.

Orozco, along with Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros—the “Big Three”—created large-scale public works with political and mythological themes. Orozco’s art chronicled and critiqued social change in both Mexico and the United States.

In the 1930s, Pomona College in California commissioned Orozco to create Prometheus. It is considered the first modern fresco mural painted in the US by a Mexican artist. It is also the first large-scale work in the US by a member of the Big Three. Orozco’s political murals in the US were both intensely critiqued and widely praised.

Explore selected works

The image depicts dark lines and shapes intertwined to create an abstract composition with a sense of movement. Thick and thin lines swirl around a central figure resembling a human with exaggerated features. The rough texture and shadowy forms suggest a creature in a moment of metamorphosis, reminiscent of a mythical being emerging from darkness.
José Clemente Orozco, Clowns (Payasos), 1944, etching, drypoint and aquatint on wove buff paper, Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen, 2012.92.585

Clowns (Payasos)

José Clemente Orozco · 1944 · etching, drypoint and aquatint on wove buff paper ·  Accession ID  2012.92.585
The image shows an abstract composition of angular and curvilinear shapes. Some shapes resemble human faces. The piece mixes mechanical components with human expressions, contrasting organic and industrial forms.
José Clemente Orozco, Machines (Máquinas), 1935, lithograph in black on wove paper, Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen, 2005.99.26

Machines (Máquinas)

José Clemente Orozco · 1935 · lithograph in black on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2005.99.26
The image shows two adults and an infant, portrayed from the shoulders up in a sitting position. The adult on the left has closed eyes, a serene facial expression, black hair covered by a draped fabric, a round face, and slightly downturned lips. The adult on the right has long black hair that frames their face; their eyes are also closed. This person holds an infant against them, whose head is visible, wrapped in a light-colored cloth. Both adults appear to be dressed in dark, simple cloaks that cover their shoulders. The background consists of a textured wall and archway. A hand is resting across the cloak of one adult. No visible jewelry or additional objects are apparent.
José Clemente Orozco, George C. Miller, The Family (La familia), 1930, lithograph on wove paper with trimmed edges, Rosenwald Collection, 1943.3.6710

The Family (La familia)

José Clemente Orozco, George C. Miller · 1930 · lithograph on wove paper with trimmed edges ·  Accession ID  1943.3.6710
The image features overlapping and intertwining dark shapes and lines forming an abstract composition. The shapes are similar to draped figures. There is a solitary figure seated to the left. Surrounding the figure are tall, shadowy forms suggesting an enclosing environment. The composition creates an abstract scene that appears like a gathering of individuals around a central point.
José Clemente Orozco, George C. Miller, Corner of a House and Figures (Esquina de casa y figuras), 1929, lithograph on wove paper, Rosenwald Collection, 1944.8.40

Corner of a House and Figures (Esquina de casa y figuras)

José Clemente Orozco, George C. Miller · 1929 · lithograph on wove paper ·  Accession ID  1944.8.40
The image shows five individuals standing or kneeling in front of a dark rectangular doorway or passage. The person on the far left is kneeling with long dark hair and wearing a light shirt and a long dark skirt. Next to them, three other individuals stand closely together wearing long dark coats or garments. The individual furthest right is wearing bright white pants. The far right figure seems to have their head slightly bowed. A fifth person is near the right edge of the image, appearing to be kneeling or sitting, partially hidden in the shadows, with their face turned towards the other figures. The setting is predominantly monochromatic, with an overall dark and shadowy background that lacks detailed features.
José Clemente Orozco, George C. Miller, Requiem, 1928, lithograph, Rosenwald Collection, 1944.2.46

Requiem

José Clemente Orozco, George C. Miller · 1928 · lithograph ·  Accession ID  1944.2.46
The image shows two individuals, one facing left with dark, straight hair and wearing a light-colored garment covering their head and shoulders. The other individual, facing away from the viewer, is holding a checkered textile. They are wearing a wide-brimmed hat, light pants, and a long-sleeved shirt. The background is dark with some vertical lines, and there are basic furniture pieces visible.
José Clemente Orozco, George C. Miller, Flag (Bandera), 1928, lithograph, Rosenwald Collection, 1944.2.45

Flag (Bandera)

José Clemente Orozco, George C. Miller · 1928 · lithograph ·  Accession ID  1944.2.45

Bibliography

2004

  • Orozco, Clemente. José Clemente Orozco, Graphic Work. Austin, TX, 2004.