Myth Understood

"Man at the Crossroad" (1934), detail

"Given Rivera’s politics and his passion for Mexico, it’s odd that, after the mural containing the panel 'Man at the Crossroads' was obliterated from Rockefeller Center because Rivera wouldn’t remove a portrait head of Lenin, Rivera would depict the same blonde fellow at the controls of the world of the future when the mural was re-done, in 1934, at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. This linebacker-necked man, with his right hand on a lever (how 20th century!) and left on a set of buttons (how 21st century!), looks like the possible boyfriend of the decadent blonde lady tourist in the later Folkloric and Tourist Mexico panel in 'The Fight Against Fascism' mural. Something about Aryans (albeit benevolent ones) ultimately being in control seems to have seeped into Rivera during his international travels. In this small instance, apparently, the boy has both been taken out of Mexico and a bit of Mexico has been taken out of the boy."