Frida Kahlo: A story of overcoming, full of contradictions. Frida Kahlo

Kahlo Frida, Mexican artist and graphic artist, wife of Diego Rivera, master of surrealism. Frida Kahlo was born in Mexico City in 1907, in the family of a Jewish photographer, originally from Germany. Mother is Spanish, born in America. She suffered from polio at the age of six, 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 rod from a tram's current collector stuck in her stomach and came out at her groin, shattering 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 of motionless inaction began. It was at this time that Kahlo asked her father for a brush and paints. For Frida Kahlo, they made a special stretcher that allowed her to write while lying down. The beds are attached under the canopy large mirror so 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 I know best.

In 1929, Frida Kahlo entered the National Institute of Mexico. During a year spent in almost complete immobility, Kahlo became seriously interested in painting. Having started walking again, I visited art school and in 1928 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 was seething with passions. They could not always be together, but never apart. They shared a relationship - passionate, obsessive and sometimes painful. An ancient sage said about such relationships: It is impossible to live either with you or without you. Frida Kahlo’s relationship with Trotsky is shrouded in a romantic aura. The Mexican artist admired the tribune of the Russian revolution, had a hard time with 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 magnetically attracted men and women to her. Despite the excruciating physical suffering, she could have fun from the heart and carouse widely. But the damaged spine constantly reminded of itself. From time to time, Frida Kahlo had to go to the hospital and almost constantly wear special corsets. In 1950, she underwent 7 spinal surgeries, spent 9 months in a hospital bed, after which she could only move in a wheelchair.

In 1952, Frida Kahlo had a knee amputation. right leg. In 1953, Frida Kahlo's first solo exhibition took place in Mexico City. In not a single self-portrait does Frida Kahlo smile: a serious, even mournful face, fused thick eyebrows, a barely noticeable mustache above tightly compressed sensual lips. The ideas of her paintings are encrypted in the details, background, figures appearing next to Frida. Kahlo's symbolism is based on national traditions and is closely related to 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 throughout their lives, is in the garden Blue House(house museum). Frida Kahlo died of pneumonia a week after celebrating her 47th birthday, on July 13, 1954. Farewell to Frida Kahlo took place in Bellas Artes - Palace of Fine Arts. IN last way Frida, along with Diego Rivera, was accompanied by Mexican President Lazaro Cardenas, artists, writers - Siqueiros, Emma Hurtado, Victor Manuel Villaseñor and other famous figures of Mexico.

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is known even to those who are far from the world of painting. However, few people are familiar with the subjects of her paintings and the history of their creation. We are correcting this error by publishing material about famous paintings female artists.

Self-portraits

In childhood and adolescence, Frida faced serious health problems. At the age of 6 she fell ill with polio, and 12 years later she had an accident, as a result of which for a long time found herself bedridden. The forced loneliness and innate talent of the artist were embodied in many canvases in which Frida depicted herself.

IN creative heritage Frida Kahlo has the most self-portraits. The artist herself explained this fact by saying that she knows herself and her states best, especially since being alone with yourself willy-nilly explore your inner and external world down to the smallest detail.

In self-portraits, Frida’s face always has the same thoughtful and serious expression: no obvious signs You can’t read emotions and feelings on it. But the depth of emotional experiences is always revealed by a woman’s gaze.

Henry Ford Hospital, 1932

In 1929, Frida married the artist Diego Rivera. After the newlyweds left for the United States, Kahlo was pregnant more than once. But each time the woman lost her child due to previous traumas she suffered in her youth. The artist conveyed her suffering and emotional decline on the canvas “Henry Ford Hospital.” The painting depicts a sobbing woman on a blood-stained bed, surrounded by symbolic elements: a snail, a fetus, a pink anatomical model of a woman's seat and a purple orchid.

Self-portrait on the border between Mexico and the USA, 1932

By depicting herself in the center of the canvas, standing on the border of Mexico and the United States, Kahlo conveyed her confusion and detachment from reality. The heroine of the film is divided between the technological world of America and the natural vitality characteristic of Mexico.

The left and right parts of the picture represent a contrasting combination: smoke from the chimneys of industrial giants and light, clean clouds, electrical equipment and lush vegetation.

Self-portrait "Rama", 1937

The first work by the artist acquired by the Louvre, after successful exhibition Frida Kahlo in Paris. The attractive beauty of a Mexican woman, a calm, thoughtful face framed by a pattern of birds and flowers, a variegated color scheme - the composition of this canvas is considered one of the most harmonious and original in the entire creative heritage of the artist.

Two Fridas, 1939

The painting, painted by the artist after her divorce from her husband Diego Rivera, reflects the inner state of a woman after a breakup with her lover. The canvas depicts two essences of the artist: the Mexican Frida with a medallion and a photograph of her husband and the new, European Frida in white lace. The hearts of both women are connected by an artery, but the artist’s European alter ego suffers from blood loss: with the loss of her beloved, a woman loses a part of herself. If it weren't for the surgical clamp in Frida's hand, the woman would probably have bled to death.

Broken Column, 1944

In 1944, the artist’s health deteriorated sharply. The painting lessons that Frida gave at the School of Painting and Sculpture, she now teaches only at home. In addition, doctors recommend that she wear a steel corset.

In the painting “Broken Column,” the artist depicts her body as broken in half. The only support that helps her stay in a standing position is a steel corset with straps. The woman's face and body are riddled with nails, and her thighs are wrapped in a white shroud - these elements are symbols of martyrdom and suffering.

The article presents paintings by Frida Kahlo with titles and unnecessary rantings of the author of the article, a brief discussion of the origins of the work of the Mexican artist.

True, Frida did not really manage to taste the fruits of her success, like Salvadorich. Frida Kahlo's work is the fruit of suffering, pain, sadness and failure.

What is the phenomenon of Frida’s popularity? Why did a seemingly ambiguous and difficult-to-understand artist become so popular among people?

Painting "My Birth"

Paintings by Frida Kahlo. What is the secret of the artist’s popularity?

Most of Frida Kahlo's paintings are quite creepy; she clearly wasn't always strong in anatomy either. Her work can be called naive rather than technically strong. Take the same one - she clearly drew better, and her pictures were nicer. It is unlikely that anyone would have the desire to hang a picture of Frida near the crib, unless he is a crazy person with a syndrome of searching for deeper meaning.

And yet, few of the surrealists (not counting Salvador Dali) achieved such fame. And among female surrealists, Frida Kahlo is perhaps the only one.

So what is the strength, brother? I think the secret of Frida’s success is that despite her obvious naivety and frightening images (or rather thanks to), the artist’s work produces a very strong impression. The foundation of any creativity is, in fact, the strength of the emotions that it evokes, whether pleasant or not.

When you look at the paintings of the Mexican artist, it’s as if you feel with your skin all the pain that she suffered. The sincerity of her work is amazing. And some naivety in this case only enhances the impression. Frida Kahlo's strength lies in the fact that she never followed the crowd's lead, but simply poured out onto the canvas everything that had accumulated in her heart, without regard to how shocking it would be. It would seem like a paradox to be successful with the crowd without following the lead of the crowd.

The work of Frida Kahlo as a reflection of the artist’s life.

I think another thing is that Frida Kahlo lived a very interesting, albeit unhappy, life. Her life was full of dramas, tragedies, misfortunes, betrayals and acute emotions. It is not surprising that such a juicy story interested the directors. Specifically, Julie Taymor, who in 2002 released a good, serviceable film based on the life of Frida.

After all, that’s what we love, right? - watch other people's dramas while lying in soft beds to tickle your nerves. By the way, if you haven’t seen the film yet, I highly recommend it. Really too sad. The author sobbed as *censored* even shed a stingy male tear.

In short, Frida’s recipe on how to become famous artist after death (and quite a bit before).

• You get into an accident and suffer from pain from broken bones for the rest of your life.
• Do you want normal family life and therefore you choose the most inveterate womanizer in your country (Diego Rivera), who is also fat and scary.
• All your life you want to have children, but you can’t because of health problems.
• You tell people what you think about them to their face. Always. Everyone.
• You drown out your pain with alcohol and tobacco.
• You pour it all out onto the canvas.

Okay, this is all stupid black humor. The steadfastness with which this fragile woman endured all adversity only adds to the tragedy. And fate, as if specifically to test one’s strength, sent one misfortune after another.

A mixture of different painting styles in the paintings of Frida Kahlo.

Frida is actually a very deep and interesting artist and still amazes with her inner strength and charisma. Unlike Salvador Dali or Magritte, Frida’s images are distinguished by greater directness, which does not detract from their depth.

Frida Kahlo's paintings clearly show the influence of Mexican muralism or Mexican monumental painting. The brightest and well-known representative This direction is, suddenly, Frida’s husband, Diego Rivera. Mexican muralism is such a bizarre mixture of social media. realism with elements of cubism and symbolism, seasoned with Mexican flavor.

In general, in the work of the Mexican artist there is a lot of different things mixed in - here there is surrealism, and muralism, and symbolism, and in some places there are elements folk art- all sorts of Mexican flowers and patterns.

In general, this is not surprising, because Frida Kahlo painted from the heart and never really bothered with belonging to any movement of painting. For example, Frida never associated herself with surrealism. In fact, Fried can be categorized as an artist who “what I see/feel, I sing.”

Frida Kahlo's paintings with titles.

Well, that’s actually why you all came here. To see the title of the painting, you need to hover over the image. Well, the WordPress gallery works like that, but I’m too lazy to change anything. Navigable and clickable.

Moses. My dress hangs here.

Sun and life. Broken column. Suicide of Dorothy Hale. Fawn. Still life with a parrot and a flag. Broken column. Frida Kahlo de Rivera (Spanish)

Frida Kahlo de Rivera ), or Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo Calderon Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo Calderon; Coyoacan, Mexico City, July 6 - July 13), is a Mexican artist best known for her self-portraits.

Mexican culture and the art of the peoples of pre-Columbian America influenced noticeable influence to her work.

Art style

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Frida Kahlo is sometimes characterized as naïve art or folk art. The founder of surrealism, Andre Breton, ranked her among the surrealists.

She was in poor health all her life - she suffered from polio from the age of six, and also suffered a serious car accident in

adolescence , after which she had to undergo numerous operations that affected her entire life. In 1929, she married the artist Diego Rivera, and, like him, supported the Communist Party. Encyclopedic YouTube

✪ Frida Kahlo, “Frida and Diego Rivera”, 1931

✪ Frida Kahlo, Mexican artist (narrated by Yuri Sokolov)

✪ Frida Calo-Mexican artist XX century. Gallery of works ✪ Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Love story. Subtitles this picture can be seen in this magnificent place. They were here because Diego was invited to paint the walls. By that time he was already a famous artist in Mexico, and he was invited to work in the United States. He was about to open his solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. And, as it seems to me, this was only the second personal exhibition that took place in this museum. Right. The first exhibition was dedicated to the works of Matisse., at the Mexican Revolution, and created art for the people. He is depicted as a worker. Their hands amaze me. Her hand seems to hover over his. It's like she's letting go of his hand. The curious thing is that he is holding a palette and brushes in his hands, although this is her painting.

She lives her life in the picture and looks at us.

It seems to me that this is how the artist expresses her independence.

Diego stands firmly on his feet and does not move.

His hands are in front of us and he is open to her. But this tilt of the head gives her some movement. And she just raises her hand, bows her head, and her gaze is directed at us.

Look up and you will see a flying bird carrying a poster.

The museum staff translated this inscription into English, and it reads: “Here you see me,

Frida Kahlo

, with my beloved husband, Diego Rivera. This portrait was painted by me in such a wonderful city as San Francisco, California State , for our friend, Albert Bender. This was in April 1931."

The entrance to the house is guarded by two giant Judases, their twenty-foot-tall papier-mâché figures making gestures as if inviting each other to conversation.

Inside, Frida's palettes and brushes lie on the work table as if she had just left them there. Next to Diego Rivera's bed lies his hat, his work robe, and his huge boots. The large corner bedroom has a glass display case. Above it is written: “Frida Kahlo was born here on July 7, 1910.” The inscription appeared four years after the artist’s death, when her house became a museum. Unfortunately, the inscription is inaccurate. As Frida's birth certificate shows, she was born on July 6, 1907. But choosing something more significant than the 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 among the chaos and blood-stained streets of Mexico City, she decided that she was born along with this revolution.

Another inscription adorns the bright blue and red walls of the courtyard: “Frida and Diego lived in this house from 1929 to 1954.” It reflects the sentimental ideal attitude to marriage, which is again at odds with reality. Before Diego and Frida's trip to the USA, where they spent 4 years (until 1934), they lived in this house negligibly. In 1934-1939 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 separated, divorced and remarried. Both inscriptions embellished reality. Like the museum itself, they are part of the legend of Frida.

Commercialization of the name

IN beginning of XXI century, Venezuelan entrepreneur Carlos Dorado created the Frida Kahlo Corporation Foundation, to which the relatives of the great artist granted the right to commercially use Frida’s name. Within a few years there was a line of cosmetics, a brand of tequila, sports shoes, jewelry, ceramics, corsets and underwear, as well as beer with the name of Frida Kahlo.

In art

The bright and extraordinary personality of Frida Kahlo is reflected in works of literature and cinema.

Heritage

Asteroid 27792 Fridakahlo, discovered on February 20, 1993 by Erik Elst, was named in honor of Frida Kahlo on September 26, 2007. On August 30, 2010, the Bank of Mexico issued a new 500-peso banknote, which featured Frida and her 1949 painting on the back. Love's Embrace of the Universe, Earth, (Mexico), I, Diego, and Mr. Xólotl, and on the front side of which her husband Diego was depicted. On July 6, 2010, on the anniversary of Frida's birth, a doodle was released in her honor.

On March 21, 2001, Frida became the first Mexican woman to be featured on a U.S. stamp.

In 1994, American jazz flautist and composer James Newton released an album inspired by Kahlo entitled Suite for Frida Kahlo, on AudioQuest Music.

Notes

1. CLARA - 2008.
2. RKDartists
3. Internet Speculative Fiction Database - 1995.
4. Frida Kahlo (undefined) . Smithsonian.com. Retrieved February 18, 2008. Archived October 17, 2012.(English)
5. Frida - German name from the word "peace", (Friede/Frieden); "e" ceased to appear in the name around 1935
6. Herrera, Hayden. A Biography of Frida Kahlo. - New York: HarperCollins, 1983. - ISBN 978-0-06-008589-6.(English)
7. Frida Kahlo by Adam G. Klein (English)
8. Kahlo, Frida // Great Russian Encyclopedia. - 2008. - T. 12. - P. 545. - ISBN 978-5-85270-343-9.
9. Lozano, Luis-Martín (2007), p. 236 (Spanish)
10. Hayden Herrera: Frida. Biographie de Frida Kahlo.Übersetzt aus dem Englischen von Philippe Beaudoin. Editions Anne Carrière, Paris 1996, S. 20.
11. Frida Kahlo"s father wasn"t Jewish after all
12. Frida Kahlo (1907–1954), Mexican Painter (undefined) . Biography. Retrieved February 19, 2013. Archived April 14, 2013.
13. Andrea, Kettenmann. Frida Kahlo: Pain and Passion. - Köln: Benedikt Taschen Verlag GmbH, 1993. - P. 3. - ISBN 3-8228-9636-5.
14. Budrys, Valmantas (February 2006). “Neurological Deficits in the Life and Work of Frida Kahlo” . European Neurology. 55 (1): 4-10. DOI:10.1159/000091136. ISSN (print), ISSN 1421-9913 (Online) 0014-3022 (print), ISSN 1421-9913 (Online) Check the |issn= parameter (help in English). PMID . Verified 2008-01-22. Uses deprecated |month= (

- one of the most famous artists Mexico. The fate of this talented and beautiful woman cannot be called simple, but she was able to withstand all the blows that befell her and forever entered the history of world art as an original artist. You can find museums and memorable places V different regions countries. Be sure to take time during your vacation in Mexico and get acquainted with the biography and paintings of this amazing genius.

Colorful Mexico is famous for its history, nature, legends and sights, as well as great famous people, whose talent passes through the centuries.

One of the most famous artists of Mexico, whose work excites the minds of everyone who contemplates her paintings, is Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo Calderon. This mysterious and talented woman born July 6, 1907 in a suburb of the capital Coyoacan. The artist’s story is full of pain, sadness, deep disappointment and magnificent cheerful masks, behind which she hid losses, betrayals and betrayals all her life.

Everything that Frida experienced was completely transferred by her to the canvases, in which she expressed all her inner world and experiences. Experts who study Kahlo's paintings draw many parallels between her work and the works of Salvador Dali, calling her the alter ego of the great master. Frida herself never said that her paintings were ephemeral illusions, or an unrealistic perception of the world around her. She characterized her works as a very real perception of everything that happened in her life. The eerie subjects of the paintings are not a product of the artist’s inflamed imagination, but a way to convey all the pain, bitterness and depth of loss that passed through the delicate and vulnerable soul of a fragile girl. All her paintings, according to her personal statements, express the essence of things in the way that life presents them - open and without embellishment.

Tragedy in the life of a great artist

Small mexican girl from the suburbs, she grew up in the family of a photographer and a fanatical mother, an ardent supporter of Catholicism. At the age of 6, the girl fell ill with polio. The disease had serious consequences, as a result of which Frida’s one leg became several centimeters thinner than the other. The girl suffered a lot of bullying from her peers, but Kahlo skillfully masked her shortcomings and was always a very attractive young girl with a hot and passionate disposition. The girl became an adherent of communist views and dreamed of mastering the profession of a doctor. Her dream came true and she was able to graduate from medical university and become one of thirty-five female medical specialists.

However, in 1925, a horrifying event happened to Frida Kahlo that changed her life forever. A girl's trip on bus 17 turned into a terrible accident when she collided with a tram.

The handrail that came off pierced the girl’s stomach, passing through the groin area, breaking the spine in three places, and the crippled leg in eleven places.

Unhappy Frida lay unconscious for three weeks. Her father sat by her bed until the day his daughter regained consciousness, which cannot be said about her mother, who never visited the poor girl in the hospital.

To the surprise of the doctors, who predicted imminent death, Frida regained consciousness. Her whole body was in plaster, but the breath of life glowed in it. After so terrible disaster Frida Kahlo felt the urge to paint. Frida's father built a suitable easel for his daughter, and also placed a large mirror under the lambrequins of the bed, in the reflection of which Frida saw herself and the space around her. Apparently, it was this factor that played an important role in her painting of self-portraits.

Life and creativity after the accident

Already in 1929, four years later, young Frida, full of inner strength and powerful energy, firmly stood on her feet.

Kahlo entered the National University of Mexico and joined the Communist Party. During these years, the artist’s creativity reached its peak. She spent days flying by in art studio, and in the evenings she dressed in lush, luxurious outfits and spent time at parties and social events.

During her studies, Frida met the famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera, whose works decorate the walls opera house in Mexico City. The charm and skill of the master could not leave the ardent heart of the Mexican girl indifferent. Just a year later, in 1930, Frida became Rivera's legal wife. The age difference between them was 20 years and many jokingly called their couple a union between a tender dove and an elephant. Despite his age and weight, Diego enjoyed the attention of young models. Lacking high moral standards, Rivera did not restrain his desires and constantly cheated on his wife. Frida was also “driven” by her flighty and impulsive emotions. She was suspected of numerous affairs, including with women. In 1937, Frida’s new novel caused loud scandal. This year, the communist Kahlo and Rivera family hosted Soviet revolutionary Leon Trotsky and his wife Natalia Sedova. Soon, constant communication, similarities in interests, worldview and the ardent disposition of both contributed to the beginning of a bright, but fleeting romance.

Frida Kahlo lived until the end of her days with her legal spouses and she, of course, wanted to experience the joys of motherhood. However, the accident that occurred, which caused irreparable harm to her health, did not allow her to have children. Frida suffered a uterine rupture during the accident, and the injuries caused led to all three pregnancies ending in miscarriages. Such tragedies also had a significant impact on the artist’s work and paintings. Some of her works reflected the bitterness of the loss of her unborn children, so the paintings depict dead babies. Frida herself supplemented her paintings with comments that such an expression of inner experiences allowed her to more easily endure the pain of loss and disappointment.

Death of Frida Kahlo

Frida died in 1954 at the age of 47. The artist’s body was cremated, and her ashes rest in an urn in the “Azure House”. Frida's house, her photographs, works and exhibitions in art galleries are best opportunity to touch the subtle and wounded soul of a strong and talented woman.

Paintings and self-portraits of Frida Kahlo

Frida painted about 70 self-portraits. Her first work, “Crash,” was written just a year after the disaster. The tragic events of the artist’s life painted her paintings in increasingly gloomy tones. The worse her internal and physical condition was, the more terrifying her work looked. Frida was not afraid to openly express her feelings, which was immediately evident from her frank works. The anatomy of the human body, deformity and pathology - all this helped to openly express the artist’s feelings. The most famous works of Frida are the following paintings:

• "Mask of Death";
• "Fruits of the Earth";
• “What water gave me”;
• "Dream";
• “Self-Portrait” (“Diego in Thoughts”);
• "Moses" ("Core of Creation");
• "Little Doe";
• “Embrace of Universal Love, Earth, Me, Diego and Coatl”;
• “Self-portrait with Stalin”;
• "Without hope";
• "Nurse and Me";
• "Memory";
• "Henry Ford Hospital";
• "Double Portrait".

Works written in the postoperative period have a special meaning. It immediately becomes obvious how significant and irreparable harm Frida experienced during such interventions in her body.

Monuments and museums in Mexico

Frida Kahlo’s “La Maison d’Azur”, where she was born and hosted Trotsky’s family, has now been turned into a house museum. It was with this place that Frida had the closest relationship and had special feelings for it. The house-museum is full of her works; tourists, art connoisseurs and everyone who wants to touch the personality of the genius are sure to feel that extraordinary atmosphere, saturated with the violent emotions of the bright and rebellious Mexican nature, when visiting this house.

Mexico is a country of contrasts; its inhabitants, both then and now, have a special temperament and worldview. The attitude towards life and death here can raise many questions and misunderstandings, but Frida’s life and her perfectly preserved house with a high blue stone fence allow you to feel the atmosphere of real Mexico.

Today, when exploring and viewing Kahlo’s paintings, it is impossible not to first turn to the biography and life story of Frida. Her pain, loss, family relationships, breaking of marriage ties, perception of the world, concern for the poor, beggars and abandoned allow us to better understand what feelings she, as an author, was trying to convey and what prompted her to express emotions in such a way.

Mexico and the whole world are well acquainted with the personality of this talented master and a very bright and attractive woman. Frida Kahlo still enjoys wide publicity thanks to a number of significant factors:

• published in 2002 feature film-biography dedicated to Frida Kahlo, which consecrated the details of her life as closely as possible;
• in 2005, in London in art gallery Tate hosted an exhibition of Kahlo's work;
• in 2010, the Mexican government symbolically immortalized married couple Kahlo and Rivera by placing their portraits on opposite sides of the 500 peso bill.

Today Frida Kahlo is a hero national importance in Mexico and an important cultural figure in this unique country. That is why a visit to the Azure House Museum is an integral part of tourist routes and an important object of cultural education in the field of art.

Conclusion

Numerous life stories talented artists Mexico are immortalized for centuries on the walls of theaters, galleries and art museums. Today, tourists from all over the world can enjoy the rich heritage of this unique country. House-museums of great talents are now available to wide circles visitors ready to touch the most intimate thoughts and way of life artists, sculptors, politicians and other artistic geniuses. The Frida Kahlo Museums are one of those places you can't miss when visiting Mexico.