The painting “Motherhood Angelina and the Child Diego” by Diego Rivera is an oil on canvas created in 1916 and is associated with the Cubism art movement. The artwork measures 132 cm by 86 cm and falls under the portrait genre. Currently, it is housed in the Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil in Mexico City, Mexico.
The artwork depicts what appears to be a mother and child, embracing the cubist style through fragmented and geometric forms. The mother is seated and holds a child in her arms. Despite the abstract representation, the tenderness of the subject—the bond between mother and child—is conveyed. The use of bright and contrasting colors, as well as interlocking shapes and forms, breaks with traditional representation and provides a modern, fragmented perspective on the subject matter, which is characteristic of Cubism. The palette consists of a range of hues including purples, reds, yellows, and browns, creating both harmony and contrast. The background is composed of muted, blocky shapes that frame the central figures, focusing the viewer’s attention on the intimate interaction. Overall, the painting is a beautiful juxtaposition of the warmth of human connection portrayed through the intellectual lens of Cubist abstraction.
