The Café Terrace

1909–1920

Move to Paris

After studying in Madrid, Rivera settled in Paris, where he lived and worked from 1909 to 1920; he was closely acquainted with the Parisian artistic elite, including Pablo Picasso and Alfonso Reyes.

1910s

An affair with Marevna

For about half a year Rivera's lover was Marevna (Maria Vorobieff-Stebelska), a Russian artist and memoirist of Polish origin; in 1919 she gave birth to a daughter, Marika, whom Rivera did not acknowledge.

1913–1917

Immersion in Cubism

From 1913 to 1917 Rivera enthusiastically embraced Cubism, the movement then led by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.

1914

Modigliani paints Rivera's portrait

At La Ruche, where Rivera's circle gathered, his Italian friend Amedeo Modigliani painted his portrait; the close circle also included Ilya Ehrenburg, Chaïm Soutine, Max Jacob, Léopold Zborowski, Moise Kisling and Modigliani's wife Jeanne Hébuterne.

1916–1918

The birth and death of his son Diego

Rivera and Angelina Beloff had a son, Diego (1916–1918), the artist's first child and only son, who died at the age of two.

c. 1917

A turn to Post-Impressionism

Around 1917, inspired by the paintings of Paul Cézanne, Rivera turned to Post-Impressionism, with simple forms and large patches of vivid colour; his paintings began to attract attention and were shown at several exhibitions.