Medical representations in Mexican muralism. Medical-historical analysis of the murals at La Raza National Medical Center General Hospital. 2023

Rebeca Vargas-Olmos, and Martha E Rodríguez-Pérez
Program for Master's Degree and Doctorate in Medical, Dental and Health Sciences, Field of knowledge: Humanities in Health, Disciplinary field: History of Health Sciences.

BACKGROUND In 1944, the call for the construction of "La Raza" Hospital in Mexico City was launched. The project included the proposal to create two murals, and the artists who were invited to participate were Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros, who, with their work, bore testimony to the advent of modern medicine and the construction of the social security model in force in Mexico. OBJECTIVE To determine how mural art is historically linked to medicine in Mexico and how they complement each other, considering two works carried out at the same time and in the same hospital. METHODS Analysis of the historical context and iconographic and iconological analysis of "La Raza" Hospital murals. RESULTS It was possible to clarify the relationship of the artists with medicine and the role murals play within the modern vision of medicine. CONCLUSIONS Mural art is intertwined with medicine because it bears witness to the advent of the construction of the social security model currently in force in Mexico, since hospitals became social achievements of the State and were to be known as symbols of welfare and modernity in Mexico.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008511 Medicine The art and science of studying, performing research on, preventing, diagnosing, and treating disease, as well as the maintenance of health. Insurance Medicine,Medical Specialities,Medical Specialties,Medical Specialty,Specialities, Medical,Specialties, Medical,Specialty, Medical,Insurance Medicines,Medical Speciality,Medicine, Insurance,Medicines, Insurance,Speciality, Medical
D008800 Mexico A country in NORTH AMERICA, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between BELIZE and the UNITED STATES, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the UNITED STATES.
D006769 Hospitals, General Large hospitals with a resident medical staff which provides continuous care to maternity, surgical and medical patients. General Hospital,General Hospitals,Hospital, General
D001154 Art Processes and results of aesthetic expression. Arts

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