| In 1933, the famous New York Rockefeller | | | | the modern worker confronted by a symbolic |
| family commissioned Diego Rivera to paint a | | | | junction of industry, capitalism, socialism |
| mural on the wall of the new RCA centre. The | | | | and science. The newest of the Diego Rivera |
| theme for the wall was to be "new frontiers", | | | | murals was provisionally called "Man at the |
| and it was Nelson A. Rockefeller himself who | | | | Crossroads Looking with Hope and High Vision |
| wanted the painting to force people to stop | | | | to the Choosing of a New and Better Future." |
| and think about its message. The finished | | | | The mural was spectacular and achieved Nelson |
| product depicted a number of scenes that | | | | Rockefeller's goal of creating a work that |
| referred to socially relevant events of the | | | | was arresting and inspiring. Among some of |
| time. However, there was one element of the | | | | the influential personalities portrayed on |
| mural that the Rockefellers deemed too | | | | the canvas were Jean Harlow, Charlie Chaplin, |
| controversial and Rivera was asked to change | | | | Edsel Ford and the famous Russian communist |
| the prominent face of a well-known political | | | | leader Vladimir Lenin. |
| figure. What began as an effort to bring an | | | | |
| eye-catching and thought provoking work of | | | | Upon completion of the mural, Rivera revealed |
| art to the Rockefeller Centre soon turned | | | | his work to the Rockefellers, but their |
| into a major conflict that would involve | | | | response was not what he had expected. When |
| America's richest family, Mexico's most | | | | Nelson Rockefeller adamantly demanded that |
| famous artist, and the entire American | | | | Rivera remove the image of Lenin and replace |
| public. | | | | it with the face of another historically |
| | | | influential leader, Rivera refused and the |
| Diego Rivera murals had gained huge attention | | | | mural was subsequently covered for an entire |
| in the artist's home country of Mexico. The | | | | year. Although many American citizens |
| task of creating a painting on one of | | | | protested to what they perceived to be |
| America's most famous landmarks, however, | | | | artistic censorship, the painting would never |
| promised to be the job that would bring | | | | see the light of day in the States and it was |
| Rivera international fame. It is said that, | | | | eventually chiseled off the wall at |
| initially, the Rockefeller family, who | | | | Rockefeller's request. |
| favoured a more modern style of art, wanted | | | | |
| Henri Matisse or Pablo Picasso to handle the | | | | Objecting to having his work censored, Diego |
| enormous task, but because the two artists | | | | Rivera later reproduced the mural in its |
| were unavailable for hire, Diego Rivera was | | | | original form on the interior wall of the |
| approached. Seizing the great opportunity, | | | | Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. His |
| Rivera accepted the commission and | | | | new painting was as grand and thought |
| immediately began work on the large mural. | | | | provoking as the original, but Rivera chose |
| | | | to call this new version, "Man Controller of |
| Although the Rockefeller family had put | | | | the Universe." Today, this most controversial |
| forward the idea for the theme "new | | | | of the Diego Rivera murals is still displayed |
| frontiers", Rivera disapproved with the | | | | in Mexico City and many a fan of Rivera still |
| Western world's embrace of free enterprise. | | | | dispute the Rockefeller family's decision to |
| Choosing instead to follow his own political | | | | prevent the work from being viewed. |
| beliefs, Rivera painted scenes that depicted | | | | |