"Naturaliza Muerta, 1915" (Still Life, 1915)

Additional Lyndon Johnson Presidential Library description: Mexican artist Diego Rivera is internationally recognized for his public murals magnificently echoing the sociological and technological conditions of the 1920s and 1930s. Lesser recognized are his early easel works produced during the development of the Cubistic movement. Living in France among avant-garde artists, such as Picasso, Gris, and Braque, Rivera was heavily influenced by cubism, although he later renounced it as "a decadent art." Naturaleza Muerta, 1915 is representative of Rivera's accomplishments in the Cubistic form. Of note are the signature Rivera elements: intense coloration, Mexican motifs, and the suggestion of landscape elements. Received at the LBJ Ranch following a meeting of the two presidents in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, this artistic treasure symbolizes a deep abiding friendship and respect between two heads of state.

• Scope and content: This oil painting is a cubistic still life, painted by Diego Rivera in 1915. It was given to Lyndon B. Johnson by His Excellency Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, President of Mexico.
• General notes: The painting measures 38-3/4" x 32-1/2" framed; 31-1/4" x 25-1/8" unframed.