The Epic of American Civilization, Mexican art mural at Baker Memorial Library, Dartmouth College, United States
The Epic of American Civilization is a series of 24 fresco panels created by Mexican artist Jose Clemente Orozco on the walls of a basement reading room in Baker Memorial Library at Dartmouth College. The painted walls tell a visual story spanning multiple historical periods and cultures, with figures and scenes arranged across the entire space.
Jose Clemente Orozco created this extensive mural series between 1932 and 1934 during a period of major social and political upheaval across America. The artwork emerged from an era when artists used their work to express dissatisfaction with society and advocate for change.
The panels depict indigenous Mesoamerican societies, European conquest, and modern industry through a critical lens that questions progress and power. Visitors see how the artist examined American civilization as a complex mix of cultures clashing and transforming.
The murals are located in a basement reading room and can be viewed during regular library hours. Since this is an active study area, visitors should be quiet and respectful of students working in the space.
The murals received National Historic Landmark status in 2013, a rare honor recognizing them as the only Mexican social realist work in an American university library. This designation underscores how a single commission at a small college became a defining artwork in discussions about American identity and history.
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