ESCUELA NACIONAL DE PINTURA, ESCULTURA Y GRABADO “LA ESMERALDA”
NATIONAL SCHOOL OF PAINTING, SCULPTURE, AND PRINTMAKING, “LA ESMERALDA”
“La Esmeralda” tiene su origen en la Escuela Libre de Escultura y Talla Directa, fundada por Guillermo Ruiz en el Ex-convento de la Merced en 1927. Fue una de “las escuelas al aire libre” concebidas por el artista Alfredo Ramos Martínez dese 1913, y rediseñadas e impulsadas por José Vasconcelos, en su paso por la Secretaría de Educación Pública, entre 1921 y 1924. La “Esmeralda” tuvo su primer plan de estudios en 1943, y en esa época impartieron clases artistas como María Izquierdo, Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo. Su orientación docente era eminentemente popular.
“La Esmeralda” traces its roots back to the Escuela Libre de Escultura y Talla Directa (Free School of Sculpture and Carving), founded by Guillermo Ruiz in 1927 within the former Convent of La Merced. It was part of the “open- air schools” concept envisioned by artist Alfredo Ramos Martínez in 1913 and later reimagined and championed by José Vasconcelos during his tenure at the Ministry of Public Education (1921–1924). “La Esmeralda” introduced its first formal academic curriculum in 1943, with distinguished artists such as María Izquierdo, Diego Rivera, and Frida Kahlo serving as instructors. The school’s teaching philosophy was deeply rooted in a popular and community- focused approach. Today, it remains a pivotal institution for artistic education in Mexico.