“The Making of a Fresco, Showing The Building of a City” is an artwork created by Diego Rivera in 1931. Executed in the medium of fresco, this piece is associated with the Muralism art movement and classified within the genre painting category. The fresco is located at the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) in San Francisco, California, United States.
The artwork depicts a dynamic and intricate scene of construction within a city, portraying various laborers and craftsmen engaged in their respective tasks. The composition reflects Rivera’s profound engagement with the theme of creation and industrial labor, showcasing numerous individuals working together on different levels of scaffolding. Central to the piece is a prominent, large figure overseeing the building process, symbolizing the guiding force or perhaps Rivera himself as the artist. The workers are engaged in diverse activities, such as painting, mixing materials, and architectural planning, emphasizing the collective effort involved in the monumental task of city-building. The fresco encapsulates the spirit of Muralism through its vivid depiction of communal labor and social realism, celebrating the industrious efforts of the working class in the development of urban landscapes.
