Frida Kahlo

by Frida Kahlo (Artist), Juan Rafael Coronel Rivera (Editor), Nadia Ugalde (Editor)

This richly illustrated exploration of the sources of Frida Kahlo's inspiration in Mexico's popular arts and folk traditions draws illuminating connections between Kahlo's highly personal creations and the aesthetic traditions that infused her early years: votive paintings, nineteenth-century studio photography (including that of her father Guillermo Kahlo), Catholic iconography, revolutionary corridos and the variegated productions of anonymous craftsmen. Readers will recognize Kahlo's centered parts and moustaches in Jose Maria Estrada's portraits and in anonymous Mexican Catholic paintings. They will see her cutaway, heart-on-sleeve self-portraits, in Jose Maria Velasco's nature studies and butterfly taxonomies. And everywhere they will find the tracks of Kahlo's life, particularly the accident that marred her teen years and the marriage that she described as the second major accident of her life--a passionate union with Mexican mural painter Diego Rivera, of which it has been said that "Each regarded the other as Mexico's greatest painter." Kahlo may or may not have been a Surrealist, and she may or may not have been an early variety of feminist artist or have had ideas about what later became feminism, but there is no denying that she is a star. The realist and Symbolist work whose heritage this book traces is known around the world. Texts by Nadia Ugalde and Juan Coronel Rivera also examine related issues such as the influence of Positivism on Frida's education and the roots of her "indigenist" outlook.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Biography

164 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2001

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

[Rosa Ramôa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Algum tempo atrás, talvez uns dias, eu era uma moça caminhando por um mundo de cores, com formas claras e tangíveis. Tudo era misterioso e havia algo oculto; adivinhar-lhe a natureza era um jogo para mim. Se você soubesse como é terrível obter o conhecimento de repente - como um relâmpago iluminando a Terra! Agora, vivo num planeta dolorido, transparente como gelo. É como se houvesse aprendido tudo de uma vez, numa questão de segundos. Minhas amigas e colegas tornaram-se mulheres lentamente. Eu envelheci em instantes e agora tudo está embotado e plano. Sei que não há nada escondido; se houvesse, eu veria."

(Frida Kahlo)

[Traveller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frida is absolutely an icon for boldness. Viva Frida Kahlo! Her art is incredibly frank, her statements painfully candid. Frida is a symbol of strength through vulnerability, for the suffering of humanity and the striving of humanity to break free from it's bonds.

[Pink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book very much. Just the right level of information about Kahlo's life and glorious large prints of her artwork.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb on all levels. A must and fabulous read for those who already "know" Frida Kahlo, or for those who want to learn.

[Drew Plummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plates are beautiful, and thorough, but the outstanding essays and analyses really make this worth reading for anyone interested in Kahlo’s work. Of particular interest was the section detailing the meaning behind the recurring symbols in her painting, which really opened a new door into her already captivating pieces.

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't give this less than 5 stars because it's Frida Kahlo and I love Frida Kahlo.

[Chispy_06 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es la primera bibliografía que he leído entera y me ha parecido apasionante conocer la vida de una de las mujeres más revolucionarias de la historia, y una figura tan importante para el feminismo actual.

No tuvo una vida nada fácil, desde el accidente de autobús comprueba lo mal que lo pasó en la recuperación y como la pintura nacio en ella como un reclamo de expresar toda su brillante inteligencia y como superación de las limitaciones que tenía mientras se recuperaba postrada en una cama. Es increíble acompañarla en sus reflexiones y en su historia y te acerca mucho más a lo que fue y a lo que consiguió con esfuerzo y valentía.

Una mujer ejemplo a pesar de la época que le tocó vivir, tenía claro que no iba a estar supeditada a ningún hombre. Estoy realmente emocionada de haber elegido su biografía por que me ha dado una visión más cercana de como fue su vida y de cómo es posible que afloren los sentimientos a través de la pintura. Y que si crees en ti misma, nada ni nadie puede frenar tus ganas de crear.
Creo que deberíamos leer más bibliografías de vez en cuándo para adentrarnos más en los personajes históricos que nos representan a diario o que seguimos desde hace tiempo y admiramos profundamente, por que me ha servido para admirar la mucho más la verdad, además esta escrito en primera persona y hace que sea sencillo contextualizar cada momento de su vida.

[Ana Subtirelu · Rating 3 out of 5]

good

[Michael Casey · Rating 1 out of 5]

i found it boring

[Beth Wittmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to know more about iconic women after reading one of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s biographies and this one was an easy pick. We all know she painted self portraits but I didn’t know that she had been afflicted with illness for most of her life. She had polio as a child and then was in a car accident at 18 that left her with lifelong pain and medical problems. During her recovery she started painting and abandoned the idea of medical school. I also never put together that the way she dressed was not how everyone else around her was dressing. Her main inspiration was Mexican folk culture and she dressed in traditional indigenous Mexican peasant clothing to emphasize her mestiza ancestry, express her feminist and anti-colonial views, and hide her limp. For a long time she was only known as the wife of famous painter Diego Rivera (who was 42 when she met him at 21, and he was also a self proclaimed womanizer) yet she continued to paint until she gained the recognition she deserved. If you have even a slight interest in Frida you should read more about her amazing and tumultuous life. This book was a little dry and I think the title is just Frida Kahlo (?) but I’m glad I picked it up.

[Selin Zorlu · Rating 5 out of 5]

frida sen nasıl bir kadınsın ki söylediğin her cümle beni benden aldı..

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story and compelling art works by Frida Kahlo. Enjoyed this one. Pity I missed the exhibition as we were away in UK and Europe.

[Erika Trejo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encanta Frida! no podría darle menos de 5 estrellas.

[Janine]

“You deserve a lover who wants you disheveled, with everything and all the reasons that wake you up in a haste and the demons that won’t let you sleep." - Frida Kahlo

This line was all I needed to read to know that I would adore this woman's writing.