Frida Kahlo de Rivera the ‘other half’ of the famous Mexican husband and wife artists Frida and Diego RiveraShe was born; Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón, in Coyoaxcan, Mexico on July 6, 1907 and died July 13, 1954. She was probably best known for her self portraits, (and for being the wife of artist Diego). As with many female artists, her work is sometimes overshadowed by her better known husband.
Her life began and ended in Mexico City, in her home known as the Blue House. She gave her birth date as July 7, 1910, but her birth certificate shows July 6, 1907.
Frida had allegedly wanted the year of her birth to coincide with the year of the beginning of the Mexican revolution so that her life would begin with the birth of modern Mexico.
At the age of six, Frida developed polio, which caused her right leg to be permanently withered.
Her work is celebrated in Mexico as a lasting testament to the Mexican indigenous traditions and styles. She is appreciated by Feminists the world over for depicting the female form and experience honestly and without compromise.
Mexican and Native American cultural traditions are an important element of her work, which has been labeled ‘Naïve art’ or ‘folk art’. Her work has also been described as "surrealist",
The marriage of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera was volatile at the best of times, it was said they couldn’t live without each other, but couldn’t live with each other either.
They were married, divorced, remarried and both had affairs. Even the affairs were notorious and extraordinary, Frida had an affair with Trotsky (among others) and he had an affair with her sister Christina (among others.
During their life long relationship there were abortions, miscarriage, traffic accidents, tantrums and its even rumoured that they had a hand in the murder of Trotsky.
She apparently said of herself, I was born a bitch, I was born to paint’……….
Information from Wikipedia, read more here;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo
Erika is going to love this! Frida Kahlo is one of her favourites!! I love her too! ♥
ReplyDeleteThe traffic accident was before her marriage and caused some of her life long ailments. She was a young girl and was on a bus. The thing I think of about her life is that she seemed to be meant to paint, yes. But also to suffer or be in the middle of pain all her life...physically and in her relationships. Her works are like no others and have been an inspiration for many after her.
ReplyDeletewow
ReplyDeletei've never seen these , or known of her really but I think I had long ago .
she was quite ahead of her time, i think. Frida is a perennial favorite of mine. thank you, Loretta.
ReplyDeleteI was introduced to her work by a friend back in the Y360 days. I really enjoy her art.
ReplyDeleteone of the greats
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LOL in fact, I was not aware her husband was a painter too. I love her colors a lot.
ReplyDeletevery interesting-thanks
ReplyDeleteWhat a great art Sunday blog. I was thinking if I did an Art Sunday blog I would do Frida Kahlo but seeing that you did it I won't have to.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry I have another female artist in mind to showcase.
Interestingly enough she is very well known so I hope it will be a big surprise.
A few years ago we saw a good movie about Frida Kahlo called "Frida". The director was Judy Taymore. We loved it and I found that it was very accurate and was very much like the book I had read.
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Yes, I have the movie. But I also have others. The Judy Taymore film was very well done, perhaps romanticizing her life quite a bit. My favorite Frida film was one in Spanish that I borrowed from a video store. It is called "Naturaleza Viva." Directed by Paul Ludec.
ReplyDeleteHer work is fabulous /:-)
ReplyDeleteAwesome. I will ask the hubby but I might have seen it too.
ReplyDeleteI'll look for it at any rate. Her life was fascinating and so was her art. Very tumultuous.
I agree...I started studying her works about 15 years ago.
ReplyDeleteShe had numerous affairs and was known for her dramatic outbursts. Oh to get inside her head and figure out what she was like as a person.
ReplyDeleteVincent Van Gogh was the similar in that respect. Anyone who cuts off their own ear is a tortured soul and they make some of the best art.
And that is something that can't be faked.
:)
She was a genuine artist. I loved that she painted what she loved and not what other people wanted her to paint.
Joy!
She was genuine in her art...no holds barred. The piece that was commisioned of the girl jumping off the building was a good example of her expression influenced by her true self and traditions in her culture.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes I think I know which one you are speaking of. I seem to recall the bricks of the building.
ReplyDeleteI also like (for lack of a better word) the one where she is attached to the tubes while lying on the bed and her insides are splayed for all to see. Or something like that. It represented a miscarriage that she had.
The bus accident left her unable to carry a child for long enough to give birth. Poor woman. My heart really goes out for her.
I look at her as someone who seemed to be resigned to pain...from her afflictions as well as in her relationship with Diego. Obviously he was he love of her life.
ReplyDeleteShe was totally crazy about him and they were both crazy too.
ReplyDeleteShe was so much younger and prettier then he was handsome but they couldn't get enough of each other. I can just imagine the drunken rampages.
Yup, a little whacky those two.
ReplyDeleteYes, I find that to be very interesting. The crazier the better.
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LOL...well, crazy is seen everywhere in life, why not in the art arena???
ReplyDeleteI suppose you are right about that.
ReplyDelete:)