Figuras y narrativas míticas de lo indígena prehispánico en el mural Dualidad de Rufino Tamayo

this article places rufino tamayo's mural dualidad within the historical framework of the 1960 decade, when state nationalism is redefined in mexico. vindication of the ancient indian past plays a mayor role in the political and cultural panorama. a multiplicity of discourses and works of art, related to the prehispa-nic cultures of mexico, proliferates. tamayo's mural, as well as other paintings by him are a notorious example of this cultural phenomena. in this essay, the creative development of tamayo's painting, face to face with prehispanic art, is confronted with his interpretation of the mythological themes that belong to the nahua-mexica tradition. it is recognized that tamayo's interpretation of the myths was aided by the works, published at that time by prestigious authors. the two views are confronted in contrast: the artistic and the philosophical.