Rafael Coronel was born in Zacatecas, Mexico in 1931. He was an influential member of the Mexican art movement called La Ruptura that challenged the predominant generation of the muralists. La Ruptura artists abandoned nationalism and overtly political messages and valued a personal and expressionistic work that was more aligned with international art movements of the day. Coronel's work is ambiguous, unsettling and creates an edgy response in the viewer. His characteristic themes of old men and women, isolated and floating in nebulous space are melancholic and psychologically complex, far from the heroic figures of the Mexican muralists. Coronel often painted portraits of great artists from the past and referenced the aesthetic considerations of the great masters, especially Goya and Rembrandt. Deep shadows and high contrast between dark and light as well as provocative depictions of finely drawn figures create a highly dramatic and emotionally charged atmosphere. Coronel was a member of a prominent Mexican artistic family: both his father and brother were well known artists. He was the son-in-law of Diego Rivera and his brother, Pedro Coronel, was an influential painter and sculptor. Rafael Coronel died on May 7, 2019 in Cuernavaca, Mexico.