Panel 10. Totem Poles - The Epic of American Civilization 1934

Jose Clemente Orozco made this painting of totem poles as part of his "Epic of American Civilization". The way Orozco lays down the colours is really interesting; you can see the process so clearly. It's not about hiding the work, but about showing the thinking, the building up. Look at how the red and blue fight it out in the lower part of the poles, those bird-like figures almost vibrating with the tension. The paint isn’t trying to trick you into seeing a perfect image. It’s more interested in how the colours feel together, how they push and pull. That little touch of gold at the top feels like a tiny rebellion, like a spark of something unexpected. Orozco reminds me of Beckmann in this piece, both so interested in the gritty reality of form. Ultimately, this piece is about the ongoing conversation between seeing, feeling, and making. It leaves you with more questions than answers, and that’s what makes it so alive.