Frida by Frida

by Frida Kahlo, Raquel Tibol (Editor), Gregory Dechant

Frida Kahlo, the writer? In this new expanded edition of the painter's writings, art critic Raquel Tibol gathers letters, poems, notes, protests, confessions, brief messages and longer texts written by Kahlo to her friends, her lovers and others. In her writings, Kahlo employs, in Tibol's words, an "unreserved, imaginative language, heart and intimacy laid bare," that reveals her taste for neologisms, colloquial turns and the crossing of linguistic boundaries. The freedom of her language is a path towards sincerity, the origin of Kahlo's pictorial universe, with its recurring motifs: the tramway accident that left the artist physically maimed at the age of 18; her anguished and demanding adolescent passion for Alejandro Gomez Arias; her complex and fascinating relationship with Diego Rivera; her illness as destiny; her political engagements; and her uncompromising quest for liberty. Here the reader will find Kahlo "swinging back and forth between sincerity and manipulation, self-complacency and self-flagellation, with her insatiable need for affection, her erotic upheavals, her touches of humor, setting no limits for herself, with a capacity for self-analysis and a deep humility." By gathering this material, until now scattered in archives and various published sources, Tibol offers us "a tacit autobiography and the placement of Frida within the intimate, confessional literature of the twentieth century in Mexico." This is a Frida Kahlo far removed from the distorted image so often found in films, plays and supposedly serious writings and studies--a beautiful book about Frida, by Frida.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Biography, Biography Memoir, Essays, Autobiography, Feminism

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo Calderón was a Mexican painter, who has achieved great international popularity. She painted using vibrant colors in a style that was influenced by indigenous cultures of México as well as by European influences that include Realism, Symbolism, and Surrealism. Many of her works are self-portraits that symbolically express her own pain and sexuality.

In 1929 Kahlo married the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. They shared political views, and he encouraged her artistic endeavors. Although she has long been recognized as an important painter, public awareness of her work has become more widespread since the 1970. Her "Blue" house in Coyoacán, México City is a museum, donated by Diego Rivera upon his death in 1957.

Reviews

[Jeaninne Escallier · Rating 5 out of 5]

If one can find their human spirit to guide him or her in life, then he or she is truly anointed by magic. Frida Kahlo happens to be mine. When I read about her in Hayden Herrera's biography "Frida" in 2002, my life changed. Suffice it to say, I have learned Spanish, changed teaching positions to work with English language learners from Mexico, wrote a children's book dedicated to my Mexican students, and have made over 32 visits to Mexico to learn Spanish and follow Frida's life. My home is a sacred homage to her art and my love of Mexico. So, this book "Frida by Frida" was like finding the Holy Grail of all things Frida. Raquel Tibol, the Argentina author, writer, art critic, and journalist, who befriended Frida and her husband, Diego Rivera, just before Frida's untimely death in 1954, compiled every letter, note, and correspondence written by Frida into a full book. Raquel spent years finding those who knew Frida best in order to borrow their letters to fill a book of Frida's life, by Frida, from the 1920's into the early 1950's. I'm glad I read this book after all the other books on Frida because my historical knowledge of Frida blended well with her timelines- from the debilitating accident that left her broken at age 18 all the way to her divorce and remarriage to the true love of her life, the famous muralist Diego Rivera. Of course, no stones are unturned as far as Frida's many lovers, graphically intimate paintings, and her lifelong battle with pain and sorrow. My heart literally beat out of my chest because Frida's words were so intimate and profound. I cried and laughed with her throughout the book, feeling as if she were writing to me. Ironically, Riquel recently passed away well into her 90's. I would have liked to have thanked her for giving the world this gift- an inside look at the broken genius who changed the world through her art.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

frida, by far, is one of the most beautiful women
and we are so fortunate that she chose to share
and express herself thru imagery...

however, this book of letters is exquisite:
sometimes heart-tearing (mostly her letters to diego)
but mainly a stunning .in. to her formulated thought.

i firmly believe letters are their own work of art.
they give us an opportunity to explore
the little rooms we carry
that are inaccessible otherwise.

frida shakes me:
a force, for sure.

[Allison Nunez-Cabrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like it.

[Ann Weiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah. Read alot about Frida but never heard her own voice. Such a sad story and life.

[Erika Maria ZaBa · Rating 3 out of 5]

No es una biografía, no es un análisis de su pintura, no es la interpretación de alguien de quien era Frida. Es Frida por ella misma, por esas cartas donde se expresó probablemente con la idea de que esas cartas ahí se quedaran. Me sorprende su enorme necesidad de afecto y su soledad. Muchos amantes , muchos "amigos", muy sola.

[Fernanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frida is an AMAZING woman with such passion for Life, Art, and Love as she could gather from those tortured body and soul. Her letters, poems and various writings uncover the rich life of a woman who didn't think of herself as the genius she was indeed.

[Céline FrenchAlps · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a big part of Frida Kahlo's letters sent to her relatives through her whole life. I was really curious about this book, and now I can say I know better about this famous Mexican painter.

[Natasja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible to read her passionate cards, to be so intimate with an incredible artist and free spirit like Frida Kahlo.

[Franziska Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Frida!