How did Diego Rivera help revive fresco painting in the 20th century?

Diego Rivera was a pivotal figure in the 20th-century revival of fresco painting, particularly within Latin America. His contribution began after he traveled to Italy with fellow artist David Alfaro Siqueiros to study Renaissance-era fresco techniques. Rivera became deeply interested in the medium as an egalitarian art form, valuing its accessibility to the public compared to traditional gallery art.12

Upon returning to Mexico in 1921, Rivera was commissioned by the government to decorate public buildings with murals that depicted Mexican history and culture. By employing a monumental style characterized by bold colors and simplified, solid figures, he helped establish a new national iconography. His work, alongside that of other muralists known as Los tres grandes, transformed public spaces into educational venues for the population. Rivera’s mature style, seen in major projects like the Secretariat of Public Education building, solidified the use of fresco as a powerful, durable medium for social and political expression.12