Roberta

The painting by William Reid was done in Mexico in 1949 while he was a student of Jose Clemete Orozco, beloved of all denizens of the reserve room in the basement of Baker Library.

The Class of 1968 purchased the painting for the Hood Museum. Most recently, Roberta was part of the private collection of Jael Weisman. The painting has teaching use as an example of a student of Orozco. It also shows how Mexican Modernism can reach beyond Mexico and influence a young American artist. The Surrealist structure behind her arm comes right out of Mexican Modernism as well as the stylization of the woman's body and features. For example, compare a 1935 self-portrait of Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera's wife.

Frida Kahlo

Self-portrait, 1935