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Following Mexico's Independence from Spain, the art being produced in the country did not significantly change. The art institutions that were created by the Spanish before the war were re-instituted and Mexican art continued to imitate European styles. While there were small movements towards the inclusion of indigenous subjects and rejection of colonialist ideas, the European influences remained strong. Much of the movement made was towards a more realist style, but in general, the 19th century is considered to be one of the weaker periods of Mexican art.
The post-colonial era of little art imagination ended abruptly following the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). The revolution had a major impact on Mexican art which began to change drastically as there was a major shift away from European techniques and subject matter towards national political themes. The government began commissioning public works in an effort to reinforce its politics and redefine the history and identity of Mexico and its people. This push led to the emergence of the famous Muralist, or Modernist, Movement in which artists like Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Jose Clemente Orozco painted huge frescoes on the walls of public buildings and received widespread attention and acclaim. The style of these murals was very different from that of European frescoes. The bright colors and depictions of the greater Mexican population appealed to the masses rather than the elites or the church. The aim of this art was to glorify the revolution and Mexico's pre-colonial history, and emphasize and celebrate the indigenous features of Mexico both physically and culturally. Another important artist from this time was Frida Kahlo, the wife of Rivera. Kahlo's paintings were not mural size and the themes of her work were much more personal but she has become one of the most important figures in Mexican art and history in addition to the muralists. The muralists and their works were exceedingly popular and garnered widespread national and international attention. A notable contemporary of the muralists who also gained international attention for his murals and paintings was Rufino Tamayo although his art was less political. Tamayo's work frequently appears today at auctions of Latin American art.
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