Jose Clemente Orozco in the United States, 1927-1934

Rating:
Summary: Orozco's Disturbing Visions
Review: This handsomely illustrated and designed catalogue is a welcome addition to the Orozco literature in the English language. The images provide a full picture of Orozco's extraordinary artistic activity in the USA from his graphic work, to the easel paintings, and the murals in California, New York and Dartmouth.

Most of the volume's 11 essays are solidly researched and well-written with plenty that is new and original to say. Stand outs among these are Rita Eder, Dawn Ades, Reyes Palma, Victor Sorell, Alicia Azuela, J. Bass and Cordero Reiman. Among the truly weak essays in the catalogue are Oles, Miliotes and principal exhibition curator González Mello. His contribution suffers from too much (dated)critical theory and not enough original thinking based on Orozco's works on their own terms. He also does not acknowledge the work of earlier authors like Cardoza y Aragón and Raquel Tibol.
Still, the catalogue is a necessary addition to the literature on Los Tres Grandes and I rate it highly. In the end, the illustrations of Orozco's troubled visions of the human condition during the first half of the past century are moving, powerful, simply extraordinary and more than justify the volume.