‘El Mural Que Debió Ser’ (‘The Mural That Should’ve Been’) in Oaxaca, Mexico
Born in 1902, María Izquierdo became one of Mexico’s most accomplished female artists of the 20th century, with a career similar to Frida Kahlo’s. Both became famous for their canvas paintings, rather than murals, which was Mexico’s defining artistic expression at the time. While Kahlo’s notable relationship was with Diego Rivera, Izquierdo’s was with Rufino Tamayo, both men known for painting on canvas and walls. In 1945, Izquierdo was offered the opportunity to paint a large mural in Mexico City’s government headquarters, potentially making her the first female Mexican artist to undertake such a public commission. However, the offer was rescinded, and Izquierdo passed away in 1955 without ever creating a similar mural. Izquierdo is also known for her damning quote: “It is a crime to be born a woman, it’s an even greater crime to be born a woman with talent.” The statement hints at the suspected reasons behind the cancellation of her proposed mural. Some believe that Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and José Clemente Orozco—Mexico’s three most prominent muralists—led a boycott against her. Izquierdo’s sketches for the mural, depicting Mexico City’s history from its Indigenous roots to its post-Industrial Revolution social ideals, almost exclusively featured women. Despite previous collaborations with female artists, like the U.S.-born sisters Marion and Grace Greenwood, the male muralists disapproved of this concept and dismissed Izquierdo as “incapable and inexperienced,” resulting in the mural’s cancellation. In 2021, curator Dea López sought to revive Izquierdo’s project on an exterior wall in the city of Oaxaca. On March 8th (International Women’s Day), 110 volunteers—mostly women—gathered to recreate the sketch at large scale, with a few variations. While Izquierdo’s original concept included a few men, this new version exclusively featured female characters, to affirm its feminist intentions. Over the course of four days, they completed their work, which now prominently displays its title: “El Mural Que Debió Ser” (The Mural That Should Have Been).
Born in 1902, María Izquierdo became one of Mexico’s most accomplished female artists of the 20th century, with a career similar to Frida Kahlo’s. Both became famous for their canvas paintings, rather than murals, which was Mexico’s defining artistic expression at the time. While Kahlo’s notable relationship was with Diego Rivera, Izquierdo’s was with Rufino Tamayo, both men known for painting on canvas and walls.
In 1945, Izquierdo was offered the opportunity to paint a large mural in Mexico City’s government headquarters, potentially making her the first female Mexican artist to undertake such a public commission. However, the offer was rescinded, and Izquierdo passed away in 1955 without ever creating a similar mural.
Izquierdo is also known for her damning quote: “It is a crime to be born a woman, it’s an even greater crime to be born a woman with talent.” The statement hints at the suspected reasons behind the cancellation of her proposed mural. Some believe that Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and José Clemente Orozco—Mexico’s three most prominent muralists—led a boycott against her. Izquierdo’s sketches for the mural, depicting Mexico City’s history from its Indigenous roots to its post-Industrial Revolution social ideals, almost exclusively featured women. Despite previous collaborations with female artists, like the U.S.-born sisters Marion and Grace Greenwood, the male muralists disapproved of this concept and dismissed Izquierdo as “incapable and inexperienced,” resulting in the mural’s cancellation.
In 2021, curator Dea López sought to revive Izquierdo’s project on an exterior wall in the city of Oaxaca. On March 8th (International Women’s Day), 110 volunteers—mostly women—gathered to recreate the sketch at large scale, with a few variations. While Izquierdo’s original concept included a few men, this new version exclusively featured female characters, to affirm its feminist intentions. Over the course of four days, they completed their work, which now prominently displays its title: “El Mural Que Debió Ser” (The Mural That Should Have Been).
