Adolfo Best Maugard
Encyclopedia
Adolfo Best Maugard also known as Fito Best (June 11, 1891 – August 25, 1964) was a Mexican painter, film director and screenwriter.
for Franz Boas
. He completed his art studies in Europe where he met Diego Rivera
for his first time, by whom he was portrayed in 1913. This oil painted portray belongs to the current collection of the Museo Nacional de Arte
In 1914 he removed to Mexico where he taught at the upcoming plein-air painting schools. He confronted Mexican folk art and added modern and rational stylistic elements to his paintings, which often included figurative caricature
s. In mid 1919, he continued his studies in the United States, returning to Mexico in 1920. At the Secretariat of Public Education he was director of the department for art education between 1921 and 1924. His drawing methods found their way into art education at Mexican schools in 1922 and over 200,000 pupils were influenced by his drawing manual "Manuales y Tratados: Metodo de dibujo: tradition, resurgimiento y evolucion del arte mexicano" in 1923. Also he wrote some books of art history in this years. In 1931, he was commissioned by the Mexican government to assist Sergei Eisenstein
at filming "¡Qué viva México!" whereby he got influence on Russian cinematics. In 1932, Best-Maugard became a member of the Consejo de Bellas Artes (Council of Fine Arts) as well the Consejo de Asuntos Culturales (Council of Cultural Affairs) in the Distrito Federal de México
. Also he was a member of the Society of Geography and Statistics (Sociedad de Geografía y Estadística) and of the Mexican Union of Film Directors. In 1933 he was representative of the department of fine arts of the council for primary education. From 1932 to 1935 he worked in the marketing branch of the National Lottery for Public Benefits. In 1933, he directed the filming of "Humanidad" (Humanity) and in 1937, "La Mancha de Sangre" (The blood spot) based on his own script, which was first performed in June, 1943.
Best-Maugard was a good friend of Rosa and Miguel Covarrubias and had several contacts to artist and poetry groups in the United States
Life
In his early life Best made some detailed illustrations of prehispanic excavation findings in the Valley of MexicoValley of Mexico
The Valley of Mexico is a highlands plateau in central Mexico roughly coterminous with the present-day Distrito Federal and the eastern half of the State of Mexico. Surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, the Valley of Mexico was a centre for several pre-Columbian civilizations, including...
for Franz Boas
Franz Boas
Franz Boas was a German-American anthropologist and a pioneer of modern anthropology who has been called the "Father of American Anthropology" and "the Father of Modern Anthropology." Like many such pioneers, he trained in other disciplines; he received his doctorate in physics, and did...
. He completed his art studies in Europe where he met Diego Rivera
Diego Rivera
Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez was a prominent Mexican painter born in Guanajuato, Guanajuato, an active communist, and husband of Frida Kahlo . His large wall works in fresco helped establish the Mexican Mural Movement in...
for his first time, by whom he was portrayed in 1913. This oil painted portray belongs to the current collection of the Museo Nacional de Arte
Museo Nacional de Arte
The Museo Nacional de Arte is the Mexican national art museum, located in the historical center of Mexico City. The museum is housed in a neoclassical building at No. 8 Tacuba, Col. Centro, Mexico City. It includes a large collection representing the history of Mexican art from the mid-sixteenth...
In 1914 he removed to Mexico where he taught at the upcoming plein-air painting schools. He confronted Mexican folk art and added modern and rational stylistic elements to his paintings, which often included figurative caricature
Caricature
A caricature is a portrait that exaggerates or distorts the essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable visual likeness. In literature, a caricature is a description of a person using exaggeration of some characteristics and oversimplification of others.Caricatures can be...
s. In mid 1919, he continued his studies in the United States, returning to Mexico in 1920. At the Secretariat of Public Education he was director of the department for art education between 1921 and 1924. His drawing methods found their way into art education at Mexican schools in 1922 and over 200,000 pupils were influenced by his drawing manual "Manuales y Tratados: Metodo de dibujo: tradition, resurgimiento y evolucion del arte mexicano" in 1923. Also he wrote some books of art history in this years. In 1931, he was commissioned by the Mexican government to assist Sergei Eisenstein
Sergei Eisenstein
Sergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein , né Eizenshtein, was a pioneering Soviet Russian film director and film theorist, often considered to be the "Father of Montage"...
at filming "¡Qué viva México!" whereby he got influence on Russian cinematics. In 1932, Best-Maugard became a member of the Consejo de Bellas Artes (Council of Fine Arts) as well the Consejo de Asuntos Culturales (Council of Cultural Affairs) in the Distrito Federal de México
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. Also he was a member of the Society of Geography and Statistics (Sociedad de Geografía y Estadística) and of the Mexican Union of Film Directors. In 1933 he was representative of the department of fine arts of the council for primary education. From 1932 to 1935 he worked in the marketing branch of the National Lottery for Public Benefits. In 1933, he directed the filming of "Humanidad" (Humanity) and in 1937, "La Mancha de Sangre" (The blood spot) based on his own script, which was first performed in June, 1943.
Best-Maugard was a good friend of Rosa and Miguel Covarrubias and had several contacts to artist and poetry groups in the United States