Source: WTL photograph© at the Special Exhibition of "Paint the Revolution: Mexican Modernism 1910 - 1950," at the Philadelphia Art Museum, December 13, 2016.
Image: "The Giants" (1939) by David Alfaro Siqueiros (1896-1974). Duco on masonite.
Comments: The professor-photographer-curator of this online textbook series on Mexican Modern art, included this work in the series because it reminds him of one of this very most favorite literary creations, which are the "ents" in volume II, The Twin Towers, of Tolkien's trilogy, Lord of the Rings. He agrees with this objective statement about ents as it appears in Wikipedia: "Ents are a race of beings in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy world Middle-earth who closely resemble trees. They are similar to the talking trees in folklore around the world. Their name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for giant." Dr. Little did not know that "ent" comes from Anglo-Saxon, of which Professor Tolkien was an expert, for "giant." Since the trilogy was written and published from 1937 to 1949, it seem doubtful that Siqueiros was aware of Tolkien's ents; however, at a minimum, there appears to be an afinity between the canvas and the book.
Humanities Questions: Taking into consideration the other works by Siqueiros in this textbook series (<= Page 17; <= Page 27; <= Page 29), give your own personal reaction to and appreciation of "The Giants".
P.S. If you would like to discuss this painting in class, ask Dr. Little to include it in one of his PowerPoint lessons.