Frida Kahlo

by Frank Milner

Frida Kahlo, with over 80 large-scale full-color plates, illustrates the full range of this vibrant artist's work, from the extraordinary series of self-portraits which she painted over more than 20 years, to those more disturbing and cerebral works which were hailed by her contemporaries as Surrealist. Art historian Frank Milner traces the potent mixture of personal history, cultural inheritance, political commitment and sheer self-conscious myth-making that permeates Kahlo's work, and argues that any attempt to subsume her painting within a particular tradition is doomed to a unique artistic phenomenon.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Latin American, Biography

112 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Art historian and Japanese woodblock print collector

Reviews

[Caterina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Images: 4.5 to 5 stars -- for these alone, this book is a favorite
Text: 2.5 stars


Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, 1940, oil on canvas, 24-1/2 x 17-3/4 inches (61.6 x 45 cm)

Worthwhile mainly for the images. The text provides a very basic introduction to Kahlo's life and work. Large format (10.5 x 14.5 inches) full-page and two-page images cover a diverse selection of Kahlo's paintings. The introduction includes some wonderful photographs of Kahlo and some of the Precolumbian and modern art that influenced her own, and of course photographs and commentary on her complex relationship with her twice-husband Diego Rivera, and her other significant relationships in the worlds of art & politics.


Frida and Diego Rivera, 1931, oil on canvas, 39-1/8 x 31 inches (100.01 x 78.75 cm)

The commentary on the paintings is sometimes simplistic and flat, for example repeating several times that the monkeys and "exotic" fruits (all indigenous to Mexico and other southern lands, so only exotic to Northern European viewers) in Kahlo's paintings symbolize sexuality, with no further nuance.

The plates are arranged somewhat misleadingly into three sections:

"Self-Portraits" which, strangely, contained about equal numbers of her iconic, complex self-portraits and portraits of others, many of which appeared to be commissions;


Self-Portrait with the Image of Diego on My Breast and Maria on My Brow, 1953-54, oil on masonite, 24 x 16 inches (61 x 41 cm)

"Still Life" -- original, unexpected, less-well-known but equally stunning paintings. According to the author Kahlo played with Mexican still life traditions in witty and sexual ways -- but no examples of the traditional paintings were offered for comparison. (Also not mentioning the long European tradition of erotic flower and fruit still life.)


The Bride Frightened at Seeing Life Opened, 1943, oil on canvas, 23-1/4 x 32 inches (62.9 x 81.3 cm)
According to fridakahlo.org, when originally painted in 1939 this painting did not contain the doll-like image of the bride peeking from behind the fruit.

"Marginality and Modernism" -- seemingly a catch-all category, this section also included numerous additional full-body self-portraits in dreamlike scenarios, and a family tree. The section title is strange given that the introduction included a semi-diatribe against those who would align Kahlo's art with traditional "marginalized" women's arts over against modernism. Milner also unimaginatively saw her art as mostly solipsistic and seemed to be embarrassed by its political, especially Communist, polemical elements.


Moses, or The Seed of Creation, 1945, oil on hardboard, 24 x 29-3/4 inches (61 x 75.6 cm)

I hope I can find another author who can better address the complexity of Kahlo's art.

[Tito the Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This artbook would make a nice gift to Frida Kahlo fans. It contains replications of most of her oeuvre, obviously including her well-known self-portraits, but also her still life paintings, portraits of other people, as well as her more disturbing work such as her infamous A Few Small Nips (the one of a woman's mutilated corpse with her husband standing nearby still holding the knife he used to stab her to death).

The book also contains a brief 16-or-17-page section that elucidates Kahlo's life and work, which novices to Kahlo will find informative. There are plenty of photographs in the biographical section, which is a nice touch, including shots of her art studio, bedroom, etc. However, those wanting a more comprehensive account of her life story will need to read one of the biographies written about her as this was intended to be merely a broad overview of who she was in order for readers to be at least somewhat familiar with her experiences and worldview before browsing the sections of the book containing her paintings.

It was actually given to me as a gift and I can genuinely say it was a pleasant surprise. It'd make a nice addition to the art section of any booklover's collection!

[Jon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Art: 5 Stars
Writing: 1 star

[Samuel Valentino · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good, brief book on the artist. The introductory text has photos as well as historical background, so it was interesting to see that artists as well as their work. But the best part was the sheer size of the book, because it allowed the paintings to be reproduced as large as possible. In paintings that I was already familiar with from other books, I was able to see details that I hadn't realized was there. When paintings were horizontal, they would be often spread out over two pages, rather than make them smaller to fit on one. A good book for getting to see her art - I wish there were more art books like this.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It's loaded with Frida Kahlo's painting and photographs as well. She is my second favorite artist. It isn't a full biography, but Frank Milner does provide a fair amount of information on her and her life.
I was disappointed with some comments Mr. Milner added, but it has not weakened my enjoyment of the book.
If you know of any great biographies about Frida Kahlo, please let me know.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book with full-page pictures of some of Kahlo's works. While I wouldn't necessarily call it a biography, the author did a good job of providing some background and a quick overview of the artist's life and influences.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderfully put together. I love looking at it over and over. Intriguing story of triumph and tragedy. Brilliant painter!

[Frida❦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!

[Carmen von Rohr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is mostly a coffee table book of Kahlo's work, with some biography early on and commentary later. Kahlo's work is very interesting of course. Alas, the (white, male) art historian tasked with writing this book is just another misogynist, classist, condescending cretin who undoubtedly would have no job were he not white, male. I really have no idea why he wrote about an artist whom he clearly intensely dislikes. Three stars because I liked viewing Kahlo's pictures, despite Milner's contempt.

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly a picture book featuring examples of Kahlo's art, this book also features basic details about Kahlo's life and work.

I read this book is bits and pieces over the course of a few days while tending to cats.

It's a good, basic introduction to Kahlo's life and work, but don't expect much depth.

[Nayel Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estudio de las obras de la pintora Frida Kahlo. Lo mejor son las reproducciones de todas las pinturas de Kahlo. Están divididas según el tipo: autorretratos, modernistas, etc.

[Harley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic artist.

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A straightforward survey of Frida Kahlo's work.