The Rich People (detail) 1924

This is a detail from "The Rich People" by Jose Clemente Orozco, its medium is unknown. Here, Orozco uses a muted palette to depict a line of figures, their forms exaggerated and grotesque, marching across the space. The artist’s use of line and shape serves to caricature the figures, emphasizing their corpulence. The composition feels almost satirical, with the figures’ distorted features challenging conventional notions of beauty. The brushstrokes are loose and expressive, adding to the raw, visceral quality of the work. Orozco, working in the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution, often used his art to critique social inequality, and here, the figures seem to embody the decadence of the ruling class. The rhythmic repetition of forms and the sombre tonality suggest a kind of procession, perhaps a funeral march, hinting at the moral decay he associated with wealth. The figures are symbols, their exaggerated forms acting as visual signs of corruption and excess. The power of this piece lies in its ability to destabilize established values, prompting viewers to question the social structures that allow such disparities to exist.