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Frida Kahlo: The Complete Paintings
The complete paintings of Frida Kahlo in an XXL edition
Among the few women artists who have transcended art history, none had a meteoric rise quite like Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907–1954). Her unmistakable face, depicted in over fifty extraordinary self-portraits, has been admired by generations; along with hundreds of photographs taken by notable artists such as Edward Weston, Manuel and Lola Álvarez Bravo, Nickolas Muray, and Martin Munkácsi, they made Frida Kahlo an iconic image of 20th century art.
After an accident in her early youth, Frida became a painter of her own free will. Her marriage to Diego Rivera in 1929 placed her at the forefront of an artistic scene not only in the cultural Renaissance of Mexico, but also in the United States. Her work garnered praise from the poet André Breton, who added the Mexican painter to the ranks of international surrealism and exhibited her work in Paris in 1939 to the admiration of Picasso, Kandinsky, and Duchamp.
We access the intimacy of Frida’s affections and passions through a selection of drawings, pages from her personal diary, letters, and an extensive illustrated biography featuring photos of Frida, Diego, and the Casa Azul, Frida’s home and the center of her universe.
This large-format XXL book allows readers to admire Frida Kahlo's paintings like never before, including unprecedented detail shots and famous photographs. It presents pieces in private collections and reproduces works that were previously lost or have not been exhibited for more than 80 years, forming the most extensive study of Kahlo's work and life to date.
Among the few women artists who have transcended art history, none had a meteoric rise quite like Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907–1954). Her unmistakable face, depicted in over fifty extraordinary self-portraits, has been admired by generations; along with hundreds of photographs taken by notable artists such as Edward Weston, Manuel and Lola Álvarez Bravo, Nickolas Muray, and Martin Munkácsi, they made Frida Kahlo an iconic image of 20th century art.
After an accident in her early youth, Frida became a painter of her own free will. Her marriage to Diego Rivera in 1929 placed her at the forefront of an artistic scene not only in the cultural Renaissance of Mexico, but also in the United States. Her work garnered praise from the poet André Breton, who added the Mexican painter to the ranks of international surrealism and exhibited her work in Paris in 1939 to the admiration of Picasso, Kandinsky, and Duchamp.
We access the intimacy of Frida’s affections and passions through a selection of drawings, pages from her personal diary, letters, and an extensive illustrated biography featuring photos of Frida, Diego, and the Casa Azul, Frida’s home and the center of her universe.
This large-format XXL book allows readers to admire Frida Kahlo's paintings like never before, including unprecedented detail shots and famous photographs. It presents pieces in private collections and reproduces works that were previously lost or have not been exhibited for more than 80 years, forming the most extensive study of Kahlo's work and life to date.
624 pages, Paperback
First published July 13, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 14, 2022
https://www.npr.org/2021/11/17/105649...
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"Physical pain had imposed a regimen....Illness is the best heeded of doctors: to kindness or to knowledge, we only make promises; suffering we obey."
-Marcel Proust
it's the story of Frida's life
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Because of my congenital back trouble that eventually led to surgery and subsequent chronic pain, I quickly gravitated to Frida Kahlo when I read her story and studied her art. She was always in pain, which only intensified after multiple surgeries and as she got older.
This brief article covers her challenge very well. People are spooked by suicide, but in her case it's the only logical explanation. She was 47 when she died.
https://allthatsinteresting.com/how-d...
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Until now, at least in English, I have not been able to find a complete, updated book about Frida. But now I have. I intend to read it cover to cover. It includes new material from Casa Azul that was finally opened up not too long ago...
In 1946 Diego Rivera asked Juan O’Gorman to build a studio for Frida, proposing that he use local materials such as basalt, the volcanic stone employed by the Aztecs to build their pyramids and carve their ceremonial pieces. For the covered patio of the Blue House Study, Diego and Frida designed mosaics for the ceilings, as well as embellishing the walls with sea snails and built-in jugs with the mouth in front, so that they could serve as dovecotes.
Before Rivera died (1957; Frida had died in 1954), he asked Dolores Olmedo, his friend and patron, not to open the bathroom of his own bedroom in the Blue House for a period of fifteen years. Time passed, and Lola respected the wishes of her friend during her own lifetime. She kept the space locked up, as well as the bathroom of Frida’s bedroom, a small storage space, and various trunks, wardrobes, and drawers. Diego had left a brief inventory of the objects stored in his bathroom, but until just recently nothing was known about the contents of the other spaces.
For almost three years, with the support of a non-profit organization, ADABI, which provides financial aid to archives and libraries, a group of experts was able to organize, classify, and digitalize the newly-discovered collection in Casa Azul....
•22,105 documents
•5,387 photographs
•3,874 magazines and periodicals
•2,776 books and dozens of drawings, personal objects, clothing, corsets, medicines, toys
The task of making this archive public coincided precisely with the centennial celebration of both the birth of Frida Kahlo and the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Diego Rivera. (2007)
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More on Frida....
https://www.fridakahlo.org
https://www.fridakahlo.org/frida-kahl...
=========
"Physical pain had imposed a regimen....Illness is the best heeded of doctors: to kindness or to knowledge, we only make promises; suffering we obey."
-Marcel Proust
it's the story of Frida's life
=======
Because of my congenital back trouble that eventually led to surgery and subsequent chronic pain, I quickly gravitated to Frida Kahlo when I read her story and studied her art. She was always in pain, which only intensified after multiple surgeries and as she got older.
This brief article covers her challenge very well. People are spooked by suicide, but in her case it's the only logical explanation. She was 47 when she died.
https://allthatsinteresting.com/how-d...
=====
Until now, at least in English, I have not been able to find a complete, updated book about Frida. But now I have. I intend to read it cover to cover. It includes new material from Casa Azul that was finally opened up not too long ago...
In 1946 Diego Rivera asked Juan O’Gorman to build a studio for Frida, proposing that he use local materials such as basalt, the volcanic stone employed by the Aztecs to build their pyramids and carve their ceremonial pieces. For the covered patio of the Blue House Study, Diego and Frida designed mosaics for the ceilings, as well as embellishing the walls with sea snails and built-in jugs with the mouth in front, so that they could serve as dovecotes.
Before Rivera died (1957; Frida had died in 1954), he asked Dolores Olmedo, his friend and patron, not to open the bathroom of his own bedroom in the Blue House for a period of fifteen years. Time passed, and Lola respected the wishes of her friend during her own lifetime. She kept the space locked up, as well as the bathroom of Frida’s bedroom, a small storage space, and various trunks, wardrobes, and drawers. Diego had left a brief inventory of the objects stored in his bathroom, but until just recently nothing was known about the contents of the other spaces.
For almost three years, with the support of a non-profit organization, ADABI, which provides financial aid to archives and libraries, a group of experts was able to organize, classify, and digitalize the newly-discovered collection in Casa Azul....
•22,105 documents
•5,387 photographs
•3,874 magazines and periodicals
•2,776 books and dozens of drawings, personal objects, clothing, corsets, medicines, toys
The task of making this archive public coincided precisely with the centennial celebration of both the birth of Frida Kahlo and the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Diego Rivera. (2007)
=====
More on Frida....
https://www.fridakahlo.org
https://www.fridakahlo.org/frida-kahl...
December 18, 2024
Taschen books have always been great & this one is no exception. The text is highly informative & although I've read other books on Kahlo's life there was plenty of new information to be found here.
There are a huge amount of excellent photographs of Kahlo's paintings (many of them rare) as well as of the artist herself.
Today there are plenty of books available on Frida Kahlo, but I don't think I'll ever find one as good as this. An outstanding read to say the least.
There are a huge amount of excellent photographs of Kahlo's paintings (many of them rare) as well as of the artist herself.
Today there are plenty of books available on Frida Kahlo, but I don't think I'll ever find one as good as this. An outstanding read to say the least.
November 24, 2021
Okay, real talk. I did not read this book in its entirety. I did however look at all the amazing photographs and paintings it contains and am even more awestruck by Frida than I was to begin with. I have been a Frida fangirl for about 7ish years now, and looking through so many of her paintings and drawings was awe-inspiring!
I am going to say this review lacks something because, per usual I'm stunned into silence by Frida's work!
I am going to say this review lacks something because, per usual I'm stunned into silence by Frida's work!
September 25, 2023
A stunningly beautiful book. However, at 15 pounds it is a difficult book to physically handle. But well worth it!
July 17, 2023
My favourite painting that she did is “Moses” 1945.
January 21, 2022
Does not include all the work from her diary, but I can see why they might not be classified as paintings. Still some of my favorite pieces by her.
August 31, 2022
This book is a marvel, in size, depth and breadth. It is truly the complete collection of her paintings. If you're a Frida-phile, this is a must for your collection but know it is a behemoth. It is also pricey but I felt like it was worth it for our collection of Frida books.
The book comes it's own cardboard container with a Frida likeness.
Really, it contains it all.
The book comes it's own cardboard container with a Frida likeness.
Really, it contains it all.
December 18, 2024
Lectura obligada si eres fan de Frida Kahlo, es un libro hermoso, sus ilustraciones maravillosas, colección de fotografías y pinturas, además de incluir una cronología y biografía de la autora para guiarnos a lo largo de su vida. Me dejó con nostalgia y empatía por su dolor físico y emocional.
April 14, 2025
Nádherná edice zahrnující všechny Fridiny malby, doplněná o přístupný text, který její umění zasazuje do kontextu bez přílišného slídění v jejím osobním životě. Krásné čtení, krásná kniha.
A kiss for every nail you painted in that picture. Look, there’s a whole bunch of them.
A kiss for every nail you painted in that picture. Look, there’s a whole bunch of them.
July 16, 2025
La verdad es que me gustó mucho, es mi primera lectura de este tipo y la verdad 10/10 explican todo suuper bien y es muy fácil de leer, además de que esta super interesante
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews