“Our Present Image,” created in 1947 by the eminent artist David Alfaro Siqueiros, is a symbolic painting central to the Muralism art movement, rendered in pyroxylin. This profound piece is housed at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork depicts a large, imposing figure whose face appears as an indistinguishable, textured mass. The figure is shirtless and positioned against a dark, unembellished background, extending both hands forward in a gesture that evokes a sense of offering or supplication. The use of pyroxylin lends a distinctly tactile quality to the surface, with the textured facial feature contrasting starkly against smooth, muscular hands. Siqueiros’s technique and distinctive style convey powerful symbolism and a contemplative exploration of human identity and condition.
