Skip to main content

Main Building

Campesinos (Peasants)

1952
John Woodrow Wilson (American, 1922–2015)
African American artist John Woodrow Wilson was inspired by the work of Mexican modernists after seeing a 1942 group exhibition at Harvard University’s Fogg Art Museum. He realized his dream of seeing the public murals of José Clemente Orozco (1883 - 1949), David Alfaro Siqueiros (1896 - 1974), and Diego Rivera (1886 - 1957) firsthand eight years later, when a John Hay Whitney Fellowship funded a trip to Mexico—where he would live for the next five years. Campesinos depicts a peasant family sitting on a third-class bus, and reveals the close connection that Wilson felt to the poor indigenous people of this country.

Object Details

We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. Does this record contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Contact us here.

Please note that this particular artwork might not be on view when you visit. Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.


Main Building