Product Description
Luis-Martin Lozano nos presenta una exhaustiva muestra fotografica de una de las mayores pintoras mexicanas. Aparte, nos afrece un sinumero de comentarios puntuales tanto sobre la vida como sobre la obra de Kahlo. LML ha recurrido para la este libro no solo a los archivos conocidos y publicos sobre Kahlo sino ademas a los archivos familiares y muy en particular al archivo legado por Isolda Pinedo Kahlo, sobrina de la pintora. Inicia le libro con una cita de Kahlo, " Lo unico que quiero en la vida son tres cosas: vivir con Diego, segur pintando y pertenecer al Partido Comunista. Estas palabras, pronunciadas poco antes de su muerte revelan a FK deseosa de vivir. El dia de su muerte se levanto temprano y estaba animosa, porque soñaba con celebrar sus bodas de plata (25 anos de casada) con Diego Rivera. Traigan mucha raza, les decia a sus invitados, porque ansiaba celebrar con una gran comida mexicana...este libro representa, sin duda, la mejor muestra fotografica de Frida Kahlo. Es un libro inolvidable. ... Read more

Product Description
Frida Kahlo is probably the most idolized artist of hertime. At the root of the scholarly speculation and pop-cultureparaphernalia lies Frida Kahlo: An Open Life, first published inMexico in 1983 and now available in an English-language paperback forthe first time. This irreplaceable, eclectic collection reveals thecomplexities, profound sadness, and immutable creative spirit of thefamed Mexican painter. The intimate picture of the often enigmaticKahlo presented in this book has become an invaluable source forscholars. The author, a prominent Mexican art critic and historian,befriended Diego Rivera, Kahlos husband, in Chile and in 1953 camewith him to Mexico City, where she met and interviewed Frida Kahlo ayear before Kahlos death. She lived with Kahlo for a while inCoyoacan in Mexico City and then for a time at Riveras San AngelInn home.

Frida Kahlo: An Open Life uses medical records, journals, letters,interviews, and personal recollections to bring us closer than ever tothe Mexican artist and her milieu. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Frida Kahlo: An Open Life
It's an interesting subject, but I found the book to be quite confusing.It skips around chronologically and often fails to explain fully the events that are mentioned.In addition, the translation is quite awkward in places. I would presume that the translator was attempting to preserve the flavor of the original, but she does so in a way that interferes with comprehension.

Frida Kahlo, A Strong and Noble Survivor of a Trying Life
This book is a documentary on the life of Frida Kahlo.It is interesting because it doesn't focus soley on her art, but more directly emphasizes her emotional strength as a woman. A large portion of the book is exerpts fromprivate conversations with Frida, as well as diary entries, medicalrecords, and personal letters. Her life is filled with tragedy, but thebook shows the incredible spirit of Kahlo as she faces near death andstruggles as a female artist in a male dominated world.This book alsogives the reader insight into the famed relationship of Frida Kahlo andDiego Rivera. Frida Kahlo: An Open Life, is written by Raquel Tibol whobefriended Rivera in the 1950's and subsequently met and lived with Kahlo ayear before her death.This book provides an unique perspective on thepersonal life of the very strong willed Kahlo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A well-written and inspiring book about women artists
This book features the life stories of four women artists - Georgia O'Keeffe, Frida Kahlo, Alice Neel and Faith Ringgold.Each of them surmounted great odds including illness, betrayal, discouragement and poverty.But they continued to create works of art, and eventually became well-known.

There are many pictures of the artists and their art througout the book, and these photographs help trace their growth as artists. I wish there was some more information about the medium that the artist worked in to create these pictures.

This book is a good read overall, especially for women, and young girls aspiring to careers in art.But its appeal is much wider, and anyone can draw inspiration from these stories.

Inspiring women
Read about inspiring women!!! Get a behind the scenes story about famous women artists, while seeing some of their paintings as illustrations. Also, find out what inspired the famous paintings that you love!!

A good story
An inspiring story about great women who made a difference. Come read about the troubles of the famous artists you look up to! Find out what the paintings you love are based on! Get an inside look at all the womenartists from Georgia O'Keefe to Frieda Kahlo. Find out how they got to bethe great artists they are! See some of their paintings!!! This book isrecommended for future women artists, women artists, and former womenartists. Also recommended for people of all ages who like history andbiographies. A good story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Exhibition Catalog
This book is in English but was originally published in German as a catalog for a 1993 exhibition displaying the contents of the famous "Blue House" where Frida was born, lived and died. This book contains several essays, a biography and chronology, large color plates of her paintings and photographs of Frida and her famous husband the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. The focus of this book is the Blue House and this book contains extraordinary not seen before photos of the "Casa Azul", both interior and exterior. Since photographs of the interior of the Blue House are forbidden when visiting the residence, this book offers an insight into how the couple lived. ... Read more

Product Description
Provides an introduction to the life and biography of the famous Mexican painter and artist, Frida Kahlo, including how she overcame polio, and injuries from a near-fatal accident. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

FRIDA
I bought this book for a friend that loves Frida but it seemed to have been a book that children could read. The book was in GREAT condition though. Thanks! ... Read more

Product Description
Frida Kahlo's life was lived with passion and feeling, her wild imagination gave birth to some of the most vivid and alive art the world has ever known. Kids will learn about the many difficulties in her life that she faced with courage and fierce determination to become one of the most important artists of the last century. ... Read more

Product Description
A biography of the Mexican painter who survived a near-fatal bus accident at the age of eighteen, learned to paint as a form of therapy, had a stormy marriage with Diego Rivera, and became a world-famous artist. ... Read more

Product Description
Essays by Pierre Schneider and Sylvia Navarrete. Introduction by Bob Littman. Foreword by Hugh M. Davies, John R. Lane, and James K. Ballinger.

The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection is widely regarded as the world's most significant private holding of 20th-century art. The paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photgraphs in the collection represent the broad range of artistic developments in Mexico during the last century, from early experiments with European Cubism to post-revolutionary efforts to develop an indigenous Mexican aesthetic, to the diverse styles and techniques of post-World War II abstraction and realism. This exhibition catalogue features large color reproductions of 75 works by many of the most important Mexican artists, including Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Maria Izquierdo, Jos Clemente Orozco, Carlos Mevida, and Rufino Tamayo, as well as a number of signifcant contemporary figures such as Cisco Jimenez, Sylvia Gruner, and Miguel Caldern. Providing descriptions of individual works as well as artist biographies, this is an excellent overview of major Mexican artists of the 20th century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

amazing collection
this book is an awesome collection of all the art that the gelmans had. i went to the exhibition with my mother and we decided to get the book, she actually worked with the gelmans in mexico as a young girl and she even remembers where some of the paintings where located in the house. this book is a book that would be a great gift for anyone who loves art.

A collection as art itself
If you are looking for a good art book that covers some of the best in Mexican Art than look no further. As part of an exhibition that toured Dallas, Phoenixand San Diego, where I was lucky enough to have seen the impressive collection, this book is full of varied works and styles. Although the emphasis is on Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, there are many more artists featured, including Nahum Zenil, Rufino Tamayo, Carlos Orozco Romero, Agustin Lazo, Maria Izquierdo, Lola Alvarez Bravo, Gunther Gerzo and of course the others in the "Three Greats," David Alfaro Siquieros and Jose Clemente Orozco to complete the triad masters of Mexican Art. Some of the art is breathtaking ,original and shocking but all pleasing. There are many more artists featured, to numerous to name,but suffice to say that the broad spectrum of Mexican Art is covered, including the works of contemporary artists as Natasha continued to collect into the 1990's, a decade after her husbands passing. As beautiful and magical as the art is, so varied in form, subjectand media matter, the text is one that teaches about how this collection came to be. The outstanding essays reflect on the intriguing lives of the art collectors, beginning with their meeting and becoming naturalized Mexican citizens from their European exile. The relationship between Jacques Gelmanand the Mexican movie comedian icon Cantinflas, who he discovered, is discussedandthe stuff of legend. Jacques Hollywood connections are also featured, both in essay and pictures. The personal relationships both Jacques and Natasha had with Diego and Frida is now legendary. Although they have European(not featured here) Art in their private collection, their real love was for Mexican Art. The Gelmans devotion and dedication to Mexican Art was their baby they never had. They have nutured and shared their gifts with the rest of the world by keeping their collection intactand it speaks for itself as a collective art piece. If you missed the tour than by all means get this book which features all the exhibitions art pieces, short biographies of the artists and an interestingbilingual text. Recommended for art enthusiasts interested in the evolving art of Mexico.

MEXICO'S BEST ARTISTS
Where can you find a collection of the best of Mexico's artists of the 20th century? Contained in these pages spanning four generations in the 20th century are some of the greatest names in Mexican art. The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection presents for the first time a wide span view of the development of Mexico's greatest treasures in art.

Here you will find Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Jose Orozco and the other older greats of the muralist and painting traditions of Mexico. The art of these "Masters" are rich in their expressions of presenting the indigenous art of the people before the public. You will also find these "Masters" experimenting with impressionism, cubism and surrealism but in the end they develop a style unique to their cultural heritage.

Just viewing the "Masters" alone would be enough but Mexico's artists are progressive in their style as we view the work of the younger artists who have made their mark on the artistic scene. Francisco Toledo, Cisco Jimenez and Marco Arce explode upon the scene with their framented narrative texts, irreverance for religion and interpretations of the myths and legends of their land. Their works are just as stunning, provocative and controversial as their elders.

Such a diverse collection shows the viewer the varied styles and development of Mexican art through the 20th Century. Nothing can match it. Art lovers everywhere will appreciate the styles represented in this collection and will gain a deeper appreciation of Mexico's artistic tradition. ... Read more

Product Description
During the summer of 2007, the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City hosted the most complete exhibition ever of the work of Frida Kahlo. Marking the centenary of Kahlo's birth, the Palacio showed 354 works, including 64 oil paintings, both beloved and virtually unknown, 45 drawings, 11 watercolors, 5 etchings, plus scores of letters, photographs and other personal ephemera. It was a labor of love, as well as a loving gesture, for Mexico's greatest artistic ambassador. It was also timely; Kahlo is in the air again, as young contemporary artists revisit and recast psychoanalytic, Neosurrealistic figuration.
In 1953, when Frida Kahlo had her first solo exhibition in Mexico--the only one held in her native country during her lifetime--one critic wrote: "It is impossible to separate the life and work of this extraordinary person. Her paintings are her biography." Kahlo herself puts it better: "They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn't. I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality." This essential catalogue, based on the Palacio de Bellas Artes exhibition, presents brief essays by a wide range of Kahlo scholars, poets, anthropologists, architects, psychologists and experts in many other disciplines, both from Mexico and abroad--as well as a more extended appreciation of Kahlo by the novelist Carlos Fuentes, along with Kahlo's own paintings, drawings, prints and ephemera. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A very well written book, but poorly illustrated.
This book is the catalogue for a huge exhibition held in 2007 at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico organized as a celebration for the centennial of Frida Kahlo's birth. Self-proclaimed "the most important devoted to the artist in recent decades", the book starts with an introduction by Carlos Fuentes which can be read like a poetical biography of the artist, with vivid descriptions of the various influences, whether literary or political, that shaped her art (an interesting parallel is made by the writer at the end between Kafka and Kahlo, who shared their initials, and their relationship to their native cities, Prague and Mexico City).

After that introduction come the numerous colorplates of the works (many paintings, portraits, landscapes, self-portraits, still-lifes), each one accompanied by an essay written by a different personality (writer, art historian, critic, essayist)who gives his or her own personal views on the particular work he or she was assigned to comment and describe. This choice of making this book a literary study of Frida Kahlo's paintings,more than a mere exhibition catalogue based on art historical references, undoubtedly makes for good reading and sheds a different light on the works. Unfortunately, the quality of the reproductions is poor, which is why I only give it three stars. ... Read more

Product Description
A vibrant series of prose poems celebrating the life ofartist Frida Kahlo.

Beauty Is Convulsive is a biographical meditation on one of thetwentieth century's most compelling and famous artists, Frida Kahlo(1907-1954). At the age of nineteen, Kahlo's life was transformed whenthe bus in which she was riding was hit by a trolley car. Pierced by asteel handrail and broken in many places, she entered a long period ofconvalescence during which she began to paint self-portraits. In 1928,at twenty-one, she joined the Communist Party and came to know DiegoRivera. The forty-one-year-old Rivera, Mexico's most famous painter,was impressed by the force of Kahlo's personality and by theauthenticity of her art, and the two soon married. Though they weredevoted to each other, intermittent affairs on both sides, Frida'sgrief over her inability to bear a child, and her frequent illnessesmade the marriage tumultuous. This prose poem is typical Maso--vigorous, daring, always original. She brings together parts ofKahlo's biography, her letters, medical documents, and her diarieswith language that is often as erotic and colorful as Kahlo'spaintings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Dancing with Frida
After having read Kahlo's diary she kept in her final days, Maso became inspired by not only Kahlo's art, but by her vision of the world, and has created in "Beauty Is Convulsive" a marvelous series of prose poems. Incorporating aspects of Kahlo's life into meditations on suffering and pain as art, these poems weave a tapestry of Kahlo's artistic mind, which was deeply affected by her physical ailments that persisted throughout her life. This is not a biography, but rather a side dish for readers enthralled by Kahlo's (or Maso's, for that matter) powerful art. Reaching back to the styles used in her previous book "Aureole", Carole Maso has written a fascinating, complex, and unique book celebrating a passionate artist.

Maso, Kahlo, and a cigarette
This work adds to Maso's reputation as one of the most significant writers today.As Maso has suggested in the past, why are less known artists ignored in media, at the expense of well-known writers.Hopefully, this smart, beautifully engaging, and funny text will introduce a new audience to two influential and important artists. ... Read more

Product Description
A close look at the life and work of one of Mexico's mostunusual and haunting artists. Her imagery and style influencedgenerations of painters around the world.

Slowly but surely, the accomplishments of women are being recognizedand appreciated by the world at large. In our schools and in themedia, more emphasis is being placed on the meaningful roles womenplay. The Library of Famous Women features an internationalcollection of courageous and determined individuals who have overcomeboth personal adversity and societal prejudice to achieve theirgoals. Many of these important stories have previously gone untold,but now The Library of Famous Women brings the life stories of thesepowerful and eloquent role models to your young readers.

Grades 3-7; 7 x 9; 64 pages; Sturdy library binding; Glossary; Further Reading; Index; More than 30 color and black-and-white illustrations ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An insight into Frida's world
The life of Frida Kahlo, one of the world's greatest women artists, isexcellently portrayed in this book. Rauda Jamis manages to give us a uniqueinsight of the pain, anguish and passion that fill the world of Frida. Fromher birth to her death, the book captures us and invites us to travel withFrida, as we identify ourselves more and more as we read, with thisfascinating woman. ... Read more

Product Description
The third installment of Crossroad Publishing Lives & Legacies series of spiritual biographies explores the life of Mexican painter and political activist Frida Kahlo. During her life, Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was not very well known and her paintings sold slowly and for little if they sold at all. To most Americans, and even to many of her own nation, she was known as an afterthought: the wife of Mexico's most famous artist, the talented flamboyant muralist Diego Rivera. However, to a small circle of artists and friends, Kahlo was valued for her vibrant personality and striking, intensely original paintings.

Kahlo struggles to win a place for herself as an artist, understand the mystery of a disabling accident, and reconcile her tumultuous private life with her public person. This quest for self-understanding never completely resolved or successful became her spiritual journey-one passionately and publicly expressed in her art. Jack Rummel takes a clear and unsentimental look at the life and work of this "contradictory" woman, on of the most important artists of 20th or any century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Suitably complex
Too many biographies fall at one of two extremes: either hagiography or pedestal-smashing. Jack Rummel's account of Frida Kahlo's life is instead a nuanced one, with an obstinate refusal to over-simplify. Rummel makes clear that Kahlo was neither saint nor passive victim, but instead a visionary artist compromised by an acute capacity for self-deception.

The convoluted paths of Kahlo's life are brought into sharp focus by Rummel's concise but illuminating narrative. Whether treating of Kahlo's finances or the intricacies of her art, the author knows how to turn the basic facts into a convincing story.

Only the most deranged and prejudiced reader could dismiss Rummel's book on the withered grounds that it doesn't conform to some political agenda. Instead, this thin volume is packed with the suitable complexity of an uncategorizable life.

worst biography ever
This book was absolutely horrible. This is the most ignorant biography I've ever read. Rummel is constantly criticizing every aspect of her that doesn't agree with traditional american values. Every time the communist party comes up in the book, Rummel inserts some incredibly ignorant and stupid anti-communist comment. There are so many interesting and well written books about this amazing woman's life, don't read this one.

Good Reading
As a fan of this great painter i already knew the major things about her life but this book goes deep into the mysterious world of Frida Kahlo. I find it expressing Frida as she would like to have been remembered this isa must read for the art lovers. ... Read more

Product Description
Behind Frida Kahlo’s portraits, lies the story of her life — a body of work drawn from cries of anger and fury, blended into a potent, and artistically exceptional, combination. At six years of age, she suffered a bout of polio and she was just eighteen when a terrible bus accident changed her life forever, leaving her handicapped and burdened with constant physical pain. But her explosive character, raw determination and hard work helped to shape her artistic talent. Frida Kahlo managed to forge a place for herself in the macho society of Mexico despite the double handicap of her crushed body and her sex. Alhough an obsessive womanizer, the great painter Diego Rivera was constantly by her side. She won him over with her charm, talent and intelligence, and Kahlo learnt to lean on the success of her companion in order to explore the world, thus creating her own legacy whilst finding herself surrounded by a closeknit group of friends, one of the most charistmatic of whom was the great Russian Revolutionary leader, Leon Trotsky. Her personal life was turbulent, as she frequently put her relationship with Diego to one side whilst she cultivated her own bisexual relationships. Despite this, Frida and Diego always managed to maintain their battered relationship. Frida Kahlo’s work plays an important part in the artistic heritage of Mexico, her native country, with both its novelty and its multi-cultural values. The story and the paintings that Frida created reveal a rare and courageous account of a woman on a voyage of constant self discovery.

About the author: Gerry SouterGerry Souter earned his degree at the Institue of Art in Chicago and then went on to do further studies in art at the University of Chicago. Himself an artist, Souter has exhibited his paintings and photographs at the Institute of Art in Chicago, the Museum of Art in Phoenix and a number of other galleries. A professional author, he has written more than twenty books since 1997, many of which have been extremely successful. His continuing studies in art history and architecture, the sharpness of his writing, and his visual experience add a dynamic aspect to the lives of the artists and the description of their works, keeping the reader captivated, page after page. ... Read more