Documenting the Detroit Industry Murals

The Detroit Industry Murals  were commissioned by Detroit Institute of Arts director William Valentiner and funded by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford and heir to the Ford Motor Company. The creation of these murals was filmed by the Moving Picture Department of the Ford Company from 1932-33. 11,512 feet of edited and unedited footage was shot of artist Diego Rivera creating the murals, who is accompanied by artist and spouse Frida Kahlo.

Taking inspiration from a visit to the Ford River Rogue plant and other industries in Detroit, Rivera created 27 fresco panels on four walls of the DIA’s interior courtyard. The depictions of medical, agricultural, pharmaceutical, automotive, and chemical manufacturing workers and machinery caused controversy at a time when faith in industry was low due to the Depression. Many considered the paintings propaganda and local religious leaders wanted the murals destroyed. Today, the frescoes are considered to be Rivera’s greatest work.[1] The murals remain an attraction and in 2014 they were designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.[2]

The footage is a mix of scenes showing Rivera painting, his assistants mixing paint and plaster, outlines of the mural, and in-progress sections. Several scenes feature Frida Kahlo drawing and scenes of Rivera and Kahlo together. These films were created during a tumultuous time in Kahlo’s life where she experienced many personal health struggles. While at the time Rivera was more well known for his murals, Kahlo experimented with materials, further embracing folk art and developing a strong narrative style in her work. In contrast to muralism, Kahlo was creating small paintings in the style of retablo. While not seen in these films, during her years spent in Detroit Kahlo produced several paintings including Henry Ford Hospital, My Birth, and Self-Portrait on the Border of Mexico and the United States. Her paintings reflected her experiences with her health and her views on the United States and Detroit.[3]

Much of this footage is available to view in our catalog as well as in the Moving Image and Sound Branch Research Room in College Park, MD. If you want to learn more about the Ford Collection check out the Unwritten Record blog and this article on Prologue.