Agriculture by Augusto Marín (Interpretation and Analysis)

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Agriculture by Augusto Marín
Agriculture
Source: Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico
I want to follow up yesterday’s painting by talking about another piece of art that depicts farming in Puerto Rico. Agriculture by Augusto Marin is, in some ways, very similar to Ramón Frade’s masterpiece, El Pan Nuestro de Cada Dia.

As in Frade’s work, Agriculture celebrates the lives and work of agricultural laborers. However, Marin’s piece is distinctly stylized, as opposed to realistic. The monumental figure of an agricultural worker dominates the foreground. At his feet grow calabazas and pineapples, while sugarcane grows to the left and bananas plants and coconut trees are visible in the background, representing the richness and agricultural diversity of Puerto Rico. Marin’s style tended toward the abstract. His bold lines, combined with the pose and size of the farmer in the foreground suggest strength, energy, and forward momentum. The stance of the figure proclaims ownership and mastery of the land, in stark contrast with Frade’s painting.

While Frade’s painting has a sombre tone, Marin’s painting is more optimistic in outlook. It celebrates farmers and suggests that they will lead Puerto Rico toward a strong economic future. The main difference in these two outlooks is time. Marin came of age in a time of economic prosperity for Puerto Rico, and his approach to this painting reflects that fact.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.

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