home
Psychology of communication
Spanish artist Frida. Surrealism Frida Kahlo (Kahlo Frida)

Spanish artist Frida. Surrealism Frida Kahlo (Kahlo Frida)

02.03.2019

Calo de Rivera Frida is a Mexican artist best known for her self-portraits.

Frida Kahlo de Rivera (Spanish: Frida Kahlo de Rivera), or Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo Calderon (Spanish: Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo Calderon; Coyoacan, Mexico City, July 6, 1907 - July 13, 1954) was a Mexican artist best known for her self-portraits. Mexican culture and the art of the peoples of pre-Columbian America had a noticeable influence on her work. Art style Frida Kahlo is sometimes characterized as naïve art or folk art. The founder of surrealism, Andre Breton, ranked her among the surrealists. She suffered from poor health throughout her life, suffered from polio from the age of six, and suffered a serious car accident in adolescence, after which she had to undergo numerous operations that affected her whole life. In 1929, she married the artist Diego Rivera, and, like him, supported the communist party. Frida Kahlo was born on July 6, 1907 in Coyoacan, a suburb of Mexico City (she later changed her year of birth to 1910). Mexican Revolution). Her father was photographer Guillermo Kahlo, German Jewish origin. Frida's mother, Matilda Calderon, was a Mexican with Indian roots. Frida Kahlo was the third child in the family. At the age of 6, she suffered polio, after the illness, lameness remained for life, and her right leg became thinner than her left (which Kahlo hid all her life under long skirts). So early experience struggle for the right to a full life tempered the character of Frida. Frida was engaged in boxing and other sports. At the age of 15, she entered the "Preparatory" (National Preparatory School), one of best schools Mexico to study medicine. Of the 2,000 students in this school, there were only 35 girls. Frida immediately earned credibility by creating a closed group "Kachuchas" with eight other students. Her behavior was often called outrageous. In the Preparatory, her first meeting with her future husband, the famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera, from 1921 to 1923 he worked in preparatory school above the painting "Creation".

At the age of eighteen, on September 17, 1925, Frida had a severe accident. The bus she was on collided with a tram. Frida received serious injuries: a triple fracture of the spine (in the lumbar region), a fracture of the collarbone, broken ribs, a triple fracture of the pelvis, eleven bone fractures right foot, crushed and dislocated right foot, dislocated shoulder. In addition, her stomach and uterus were pierced with a metal railing, which severely damaged her reproductive function. She was bedridden for a year, and health problems remained for life. Subsequently, Frida had to undergo several dozen operations, not leaving hospitals for months. She, despite her ardent desire, could not become a mother. It was after the tragedy that she first asked her father for brushes and paints. A special stretcher was made for Frida, which allowed her to write lying down. Beds attached under the canopy large mirror so she can see herself. The first picture was a self-portrait, which forever determined the main direction of creativity: “I paint myself because I spend a lot of time alone and because I am the topic that I know best.”

In 1928 she joined the Mexican Communist Party. Frida Kahlo married Diego Rivera in 1929. He was 43 years old, she was 22. The two artists were brought together not only by art, but also by common communist political beliefs. Their stormy living together became a legend. Many years later, Frida said: “There were two accidents in my life: one was when the bus crashed into a tram, the other was Diego.” In the 1930s, Frida lived for some time in the United States, where her husband worked. It's forced long stay abroad, in a developed industrial country, made her feel national differences more acutely. Since then, Frida has been especially fond of Mexican folk culture, collecting old works. applied arts, even in Everyday life carried National costumes. Journey to Paris in 1939 where Frida became the sensation of a thematic exhibition mexican art(one of her paintings was even acquired by the Louvre), further developed a patriotic feeling. In 1937, the Soviet revolutionary leader Lev Trotsky briefly took refuge in the house of Diego and Frida; they began an affair with Frida. It is believed that he was forced to leave them by too obvious passion for the temperamental Mexican. In the 1940s, Frida's paintings appeared in several notable exhibitions. At the same time, her health problems are getting worse. Medicines and drugs designed to reduce physical suffering change it. state of mind, which is clearly reflected in the Diary, which has become a cult among her fans. In 1953, its first personal exhibition at home. By that time, Frida could no longer get out of bed, and she was brought to the opening of the exhibition in a hospital bed. Soon, due to the onset of gangrene, her right leg was amputated below the knee. Frida Kahlo died on July 13, 1954 from pneumonia. Shortly before her death, she left the last entry in her diary: "I hope that the departure will be successful, and I will not return." Some friends of Frida Kahlo speculated that she died of an overdose, and her death may not have been accidental. However, there is no evidence of this version; an autopsy was not performed. Farewell to Frida Kahlo took place at the Palace of Fine Arts. In addition to Diego Rivera, the ceremony was attended by Mexican President Lazaro Cardenas and many artists. Since 1955, Frida Kahlo's Blue House has become a museum in her memory.

Lit.: Teresa del Conde. Vida de Frida Kahlo. - Mexico: Departamento Editorial, Secretaría de la Presidencia, 1976. Teresa del Conde. Frida Kahlo: La Pintora y el Mito. - Barcelona, 2002. Drucker M. Frida Kahlo. - Albuquerque, 1995. Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican Modernism. (Cat.). - S.F.: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 1996. Frida Kahlo. (Cat.). - L. The diary of Frida Kahlo: an intimate self-portrait / H.N. Abrams. - N.Y., 1995. , 2005. Leklezio J.-M. Diego and Frida - M.: Hummingbird, 2006. Kettenmann A. Frida Kahlo: Passion and pain. - M., 2006. - 96 p. Prignitz-Poda H. Frida Kahlo: Life and Work. - N.Y., 2007. Herrera H. Frida Kahlo. Viva la vida! - M., 2004.

Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo i Calderon (July 6, 1907, Coyoacan, Mexico City, Mexico - July 13, 1954, ibid) - Mexican artist, best known for her self-portraits, wife of Diego Rivera.

Biography
Calo Frida, Mexican artist and graphic artist, wife of Diego Rivera, master of surrealism. Frida Kahlo was born in Mexico City in 1907, the son of a Jewish photographer, originally from Germany. Mother is Spanish born in America. At the age of six, she suffered from polio, and since then her right leg has become shorter and thinner than her left. At the age of eighteen, on September 17, 1925, Kahlo was in a car accident: a broken iron bar of a tram current collector stuck in her stomach and went out in her groin, crushing her hip bone. The spine was damaged in three places, two hips and a leg were broken in eleven places. Doctors could not vouch for her life. The painful months began of inaction. It was at this time that Kahlo asked her father for a brush and paints. A special stretcher was made for Frida Kahlo, which allowed her to write lying down. A large mirror was attached under the canopy of the bed so that Frida Kahlo could see herself. She started with self-portraits. "I write myself because I spend a lot of time alone and because I am the subject that I know best". In 1929, Frida Kahlo entered the National Institute of Mexico. For a year spent almost in complete immobility, Kahlo became seriously interested in painting. Having started walking again, she visited art school and in 1928 she joined the Communist Party. Her work was highly appreciated by the already famous communist artist Diego Rivera. At 22, Frida Kahlo married him. Their family life seethed with passion. They could not always be together, but never apart. They had a relationship - passionate, obsessed and sometimes painful. ancient sage said about such relationships: "It is impossible to live neither with you nor without you." Frida Kahlo's relationship with Trotsky is fanned with a romantic halo. The Mexican artist admired the "tribune of the Russian revolution", was very upset by his expulsion from the USSR and was happy that thanks to Diego Rivera he found shelter in Mexico City. Most of all in life, Frida Kahlo loved life itself - and this attracted men and women to her like a magnet. Despite the excruciating physical suffering, she could have fun from the heart and go wild. But the damaged spine constantly reminded of itself. From time to time, Frida Kahlo had to go to the hospital, almost constantly wearing special corsets. In 1950, she underwent 7 operations on her spine, she spent 9 months in a hospital bed, after which she could move only in wheelchair. In 1952, Frida Kahlo's right leg was amputated to the knee. In 1953, Frida Kahlo's first solo exhibition was held in Mexico City. Frida Kahlo does not smile in any self-portrait: a serious, even mournful face, fused thick eyebrows, a slightly noticeable mustache over tightly compressed sensual lips. The ideas of her paintings are encrypted in the details, the background, the figures that appear next to Frida. The symbolism of Kahlo is based on national traditions and is closely connected with the Indian mythology of the pre-Hispanic period. Frida Kahlo knew the history of her homeland brilliantly. Many authentic monuments ancient culture, which Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo collected all their lives, is located in the garden of the Blue House. Frida Kahlo died of pneumonia, a week after she celebrated her 47th birthday, on July 13, 1954. Farewell to Frida Kahlo took place in the "Bellas Artes" - the Palace of Fine Arts. IN last way Frida, along with Diego Rivera, was seen off by Mexican President Lazaro Cardenas, artists, writers - Siqueiros, Emma Hurtado, Victor Manuel Villaseñor and others famous figures Mexico.

Creation
The work of Frida Kahlo has always gravitated towards surrealism. The founder of surrealism, Andre Breton, who traveled in Mexico in 1938, was fascinated by the paintings of Kahlo, unambiguously ranked the paintings of Frida Kahlo as surrealism. Andre Breton offered to arrange an exhibition in Paris, but when Frida Kahlo, who did not speak French, arrived in Paris, she was in for an unpleasant surprise - Breton did not bother to pick up the work of the Mexican artist from the customs service. The event was saved by Marcel Duchamp, the exhibition took place 6 weeks later. She did not become financially successful, but critical reviews were favorable, paintings by Frida Kahlo were praised by Picasso and Kandinsky, and one of them was bought by the Louvre. Frida Kahlo, quick-tempered by nature, was offended and did not hide her dislike for the “crazy crazy surrealist sons of bitches”. She abandoned surrealism not immediately, in January 1940. she took part (along with Diego Rivera) in International Exhibition Surrealism, but later proved that she had never been a true surrealist. “ They thought I was a surrealist, but I wasn't. Frida Kahlo never painted dreams, I painted my reality," the artist said.

Art Latin America and paintings by Frida
Of particular importance in the work of Frida Kahlo are national motifs. Frida Kahlo knew the history of her homeland well. Frida had a special love for Mexican folk culture, collected old works of applied art, and even wore national costumes in everyday life. In Frida's paintings, the influence of Mexican folk art, the culture of the pre-Columbian civilizations of America is very strong. Her work is full of symbols and fetishes. The ideas of her paintings are encoded in the details, the background, the figures that appear next to Frida and the symbolism is revealed through national traditions and is closely connected with the Indian mythology of the pre-Hispanic period. And yet, in the painting of Frida, the influence of European painting. Experts believe that the 1940s is the heyday of Frida Kahlo's creativity.

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera
At 22, Frida Kahlo became the wife of a famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera. Diego Rivera was then 43 years old. The two artists were brought together not only by art, but also by common communist beliefs. Their stormy life together has become a legend. Frida met Diego Rivera as a teenager, when he painted the walls of the school where Frida studied. After an injury and temporary forced imprisonment, Frida, who has written many paintings during this time, decides to show them to a recognized meter. Paintings produced by Diego Rivera great impression: « The paintings of Frida Kahlo conveyed a life-filled sensuality, which was complemented by a merciless, but very sensitive, ability to observe. It was obvious to me that this girl was a born artist.».

Character
Despite a life full of pain and suffering, Frida Kahlo had a lively and liberated extraversion nature, and her daily speech was littered with foul language. Being a tomboy in her youth, she did not lose her ardor in later years. Kahlo smoked heavily, drank alcohol in excess (especially tequila), was openly bisexual, sang obscene songs and told guests of her wild parties equally indecent jokes.

Creation
In the works of Frida Kahlo, the strong influence of Mexican folk art, the culture of the pre-Columbian civilizations of America, is noticeable. Her work is full of symbols and fetishes. The influence of European painting is also noticeable in it - in early work the enthusiasm of Frida, for example, Botticelli, manifested itself.
Exhibitions
In 2003, an exhibition of Frida Kahlo's works and her photographs was held in Moscow. The painting "Roots" was exhibited in 2005 in London gallery"Tate", and the personal exhibition of Kahlo in this museum became one of the most successful in the history of the gallery - it was visited by about 370 thousand people.
The cost of paintings
In early 2006, Frida's self-portrait Roots was valued at $7 million by Sotheby's experts. The painting was painted by the artist in oil on sheet metal in 1943 (after her remarriage to Diego Rivera). In the same year, this painting was sold for 5.6 million US dollars, which was a record among Latin American works.

house museum
The house in Coyoacan was built three years before Frida was born on a small piece of land. Thick exterior walls, flat roof, one living floor, layout that kept rooms cool and open courtyard, - almost a sample of a colonial-style house. It stood only a few blocks from the city's central square. From the outside, the house on the corner of Calle Londres and Calle Allende looked exactly like the others in Coyoacán, an old residential area in the southwest suburbs of Mexico City. For 30 years, the appearance of the house has not changed.

But Diego and Frida made it what we know it: a house in the prevailing blue color with elegant high windows, decorated in traditional Indian style, the house is full of passion. Guarding the entrance to the house are two gigantic Judas, their twenty-foot-tall papier-mâché figures gesturing as if inviting each other to talk. Inside, Frida's palettes and brushes lie on the worktable as if she had just left them there. By Diego Rivera's bed is a hat, his work robe and huge boots. The large corner bedroom has a glass showcase. Above it is written: "Frida Kahlo was born here on July 7, 1910." The inscription appeared four years after the death of the artist, when her house became a museum. Unfortunately, the inscription is inaccurate. According to Frida's birth certificate, she was born on July 6, 1907. But choosing something more significant than insignificant facts, she decided that she was born not in 1907, but in 1910, the year the Mexican Revolution began. Since she was a child during the revolutionary decade and lived in the chaos and bloodstained streets of Mexico City, she decided that she was born with this revolution. The bright blue and red walls of the courtyard are decorated with another inscription: "Frida and Diego lived in this house from 1929 to 1954." Prior to the trip of Diego and Frida to the USA, where they spent 4 years (until 1934), they did not live much in this house. Between 1934 and 1939 they lived in two houses built especially for them in the residential area of San Angel. Then followed long periods when, preferring to live independently in a studio in San Angel, Diego did not live with Frida at all, not to mention the year when both Rivers parted, divorced and remarried.

Filmography
In 2002, the film Frida was filmed, dedicated to the artist. The role of Frida Kahlo was played by Salma Hayek. In 1971, the short film "Frida Kahlo" was released, in 1982 - a documentary, in 2000 - documentary from the series "Great Women Artists", in 1976 - "The Life and Death of Frida Kahlo", in 2005 - the documentary "Life and Times of Frida Kahlo".

Paintings of Frida Kahlo and her life. On the work of the Mexican artist.
Today I watched the film Frida (2002, directed by Julia Taymor). I must say, the picture is very impressive. Until that moment, I was not interested in the biography of the artist. All that I remembered about her was self-portraits with unforgettable eyebrows. As a matter of fact, Frida is known, first of all, thanks to self-portraits. Now I understand why...
When Frieda was 18, she had a severe accident. She received fractures of the spine, ribs, legs and many other injuries. Doctors were inclined to believe that the girl would no longer be able to walk. For about a year she lay, not getting up, in an orthopedic corset. Parents spent all their money on doctors, not losing hope for a better outcome.
It was at this time that Frida began to draw. In the film, a girl paints butterflies on her plaster corset. Judging by the surviving photographs, she did use a corset instead of canvas.

A little later, a special easel was made for Frida so that she could draw while lying down. A mirror was attached to the ceiling. The first picture of the girl was a self-portrait.
A year later, Frida began to walk, but until the end of her life she experienced constant pain throughout her body.
Perhaps outwardly Salma Hayek (she plays leading role in the film "Frida") is much more beautiful than the artist. And yet, in real Frida there is something attractive. She has a simple face, but her eyes are very piercing. It was not for nothing that Leon Trotsky wrote a letter to the artist: “You gave me back my youth and took away my mind. With you, I feel like a 17-year-old boy." From this woman, Lev Davidovich lost his head.
For the last 10 years of her life, the artist kept a diary. It contains not only Frida's notes, but also her watercolor drawings. Many of Kahlo's thoughts can be learned from him, but also from her paintings.

Artist Frida Kahlo (biography).

The work of Frida Kahlo is unusual and characteristic only for her. The artist did not imitate anyone. her painting is individual.

The paintings of Frida Kahlo speak volumes. From these canvases one can judge the life of the artist, her fears and dreams.

Frida herself said the following about her works: “My work is the most complete biography that I was able to write. She was a self-taught artist and painted not the way she was taught, but the way she felt with her heart. And, judging by the canvases of the artist, she was not too happy, despite the fact that in public she always smiled radiantly and sparkled with humor. Perhaps her paintings express the pain that she felt all the time. Pain in the body from the consequences of the accident, pain in the soul from the inability to have a child and the betrayal of her husband.
Their marriage to Diego Rivera was given a deadline of 2 months by those around them. However, despite all the difficulties, they lived for 25 years, until the death of Frida. In this photo, Frida is with Diego.

There are moments in the film that can deeply hurt and even shock. For example, Frida's child is alcoholized in a jar. She paints it from nature. But, despite such scenes, this movie is worth seeing. The description of a woman's life is dramatic and amazing.
I was very impressed by the appearance of Frida at her last exhibition. The artist was brought right on the bed, as the doctor categorically forbade her to get up. And it's not the director's idea. So it was in fact.
I heard the song "Frida" many times Alai bands Oli. After watching the movie, she is perceived in a completely different way. Before it was just a bunch of words, now it makes sense.
Shortly before her death, the artist wrote in her diary that she was happily waiting for her end and hoped that she would never return...

Madonna really wanted to play her role in the biopic. But Frida in the film of the same name was Salma Hayek, and the image of the cheerful, shocking Mexican artist was amazing!

Biography of Frida Kahlo

First hit

It is a pity that the actress was not given an Oscar for this work ( high awards Academy Awards were awarded for makeup and soundtrack, but Hayek remained a nominee). By the way, the relatives of those about whom the biographical Feature Film, often remain dissatisfied with the interpretation of events and the image dear to them. And then it turned out the other way around - the artist's niece was delighted with the reincarnation of Salma.

Who is she, this woman, who suffered so much torment and pain, the legend of Mexico, the pride of this Latin American country, splashing out her experiences on canvas?

First, let's try to pronounce this long mexican name: Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo Calderon, married de Rivera.

For some reason, fate had been giving her unpleasant surprises since birth. Born in July 1907 to a Mexican mother (Frida was a half-breed - her father had German roots), the girl fell seriously ill at the age of 6. Childhood poliomyelitis - a disease that is now easily dealt with by vaccination - was then a serious diagnosis. The baby withstood this first test with firmness. She was not paralyzed, only slightly limped, and one leg became a little thinner.

An accident that twisted the body, but not the soul

The first "bells" from the mocking fate only made the girl clench her teeth tighter - later this skill was very useful to our heroine. Frida grew up cocky and very athletic. She managed to become one of the “chosen ones”: almost no girls were taken to the prestigious Preparatory school. Kahlo wanted to become a doctor and was a very diligent student. It was at this school that she first saw her future husband, the then eminent painter Diego Rivera: he was engaged in interior design.

Dreams of medicine in literally this word was moved by a tram. It was with him that the bus with passengers collided. Unfortunately, Frida was among them. It was as if fate didn’t have enough of that tiny polio “shot”, and she decided in a different way to chain the girl to the bed. She was only 18, and she turned out to be chained in a shell. Multiple fractures of the spine, pelvis, right leg, ribs, in addition, she seemed to be nailed with a metal rod - right in the stomach. How did she survive this accident?

A year in bed - there is something to fall into despair. But Frida did not give up. It was then that she took up the brushes. A simple device allowed the girl to draw lying down, a mirror was fixed above her. And the debut of the artist was a self-portrait - later she will write a great many of them, it will be main theme Frida's work.

Experts classify her as a surrealist, but still Kahlo's style of writing was closer to the art of primitivists, and she was also inspired by Mexican folk motifs.

fiery passion

Frida believed in the ideals of communism, almost boasted of her bisexuality, smoked like a steam locomotive, did not shy away from tequila, could cover her interlocutor with a “three-story” obscenity. A certain masculinity was hidden by long skirts, bright colors clothes (she loved national costumes).

That meeting with Rivera at school left a mark on her heart, and it was him that she chose as the “man of life”, entering into marriage with him in 1929. He was 21 years older, could not miss a single more or less pretty model: a fat and early flabby middle-aged womanizer. A strange couple (they called themselves "elephant and bird")!

But the strength of his talent, his life-loving passionate nature so attracted the rebel Frida that she could not resist this love all her not very long life.

Yes, she also had other men (even Trotsky fell under the millstones of her wild charm - expelled from Soviet Russia, he lived with the Rivera couple for some time), and there were women. But she loved only her Diego. She became her guru in painting, she listened to his advice, studied with him.

Rivera had a long-term job in the States in the 1930s, and his wife followed. This "business trip" burdened her, where she felt even more connected with her native culture.

Recognition and death

Participation in the Paris exhibition opened Frida to Europe (the Louvre is interested in her paintings), then other prestigious expositions follow.

More and more strength and nerves are spent on clarifying the relationship with the unfaithful spouse, motherhood turns out to be impossible: terrible youthful traumas make themselves felt. Terrible pains are only briefly quenched by strong drugs, which turns almost into an addiction.

Frida keeps a diary (this is a chronicle of her suffering) and feverishly writes, creating one picture after another: she seems to know that time is short.

Only a year before his death, the authorities organized a personal exhibition of Kahlo. The hero of the occasion could not come to her "benefit performance" on her own, she, like a queen, was brought right on the bed. Even at the end of the journey, fate could not resist the next blows: gangrene, amputation of almost half of the right leg (it was then, during the accident, that suffered the most: 11 fractures).

In July 1954, Frida passed away. The “lying down” lifestyle provoked stagnation of fluid in the lungs, which caused inflammation and death. There is a version that she simply could not bear further torment and took too many drugs. There was no autopsy, but the entry in the diary about the imminent departure can hardly be considered suicide note. Yes, and this is unlikely strong in spirit, not broken by any blows of fate, a woman would have given up so easily.

The president of Mexico himself came to say goodbye to Frida. A year later, the Blue House, in which she was born, became a museum.

The best works of Frida Kahlo

Most notable works artists are self-portraits or scenes from own life. including very famous picture"Two Fridas", "Self-Portrait with Parrots", "Little Doe".

She also painted her husband (“Portrait of Diego Rivera”).

But surrealism manifested itself in the works “My dress is there”, “Moses” (“The core of creation”) - with many recognizable faces of tyrants and deities.

Gallery "Tate" a few years ago exhibited the work of Frida "Roots" (later it will go to auction for 5.6 million dollars). The same British gallery hosted (with great success) a personal exhibition of the artist.

- the foremother of Mexican modernism, the brightest figure in Mexican culture, known and adored throughout the world by millions of people. "Faces of Frida" is the most large collection materials related to the artist. Artifacts collected include 20 previously undigitized ultra-high-resolution images, essays by her biographers and critics, an exhibition of works from museums around the world, including little-known sketches, sketches, and early works; letters and photographs of the artist, left throughout her life; online exhibition of her famous wardrobe.

Some of the items on display are extremely rare, such as early versions of her work sketched on reverse side finished paintings. All of this is available online for free.

"Accident", 1926. In the picture of Kahlo, an accident with a bus in which she received serious injuries.

In addition, the Faces of Frida project offers Google Street View to see the places that most influenced her career, including the famous "blue house" in Mexico City, where she was born and died. Later it was turned into the Frida Kahlo House Museum, where you can also take a tour virtual tour, look into Frida's working studio, dining room, garden near the house.

Self portrait, 1926.

Kahlo is not in vain called the queen of self-portraits. Most of the surviving paintings depict the artist herself. She said: " I draw myself because I am often alone and because I am the topic I know best».

Four inhabitants of Mexico City, 1938.

In addition to herself, she painted the resonances of her time, explored human experiences that go beyond the personality. " Like all the best artists, says writer Frances Borzello, – Kahlo's work is not a diary brilliantly rendered in colors, but the re-creation of personal beliefs, feelings and events through her particular lens into something unique and universal».

During Frida's lifetime, only two exhibitions of her work took place, one of which was organized by the surrealist Andre Breton. Although Frida Kahlo said: They thought I was a surrealist, but I'm not. I never wrote fantasy. I wrote my reality».

Self-portrait on the border between Mexico and the United States, 1932.