Finding Frida Kahlo/ Encontrando a Frida Kahlo

by Barbara Levine, Stephen Jaycox

"Let's go see the Frida Kahlos."

It seemed inconceivable that after decades of exhibitions, auctions, books, and movies, unpublished Frida Kahlo artwork could still be found anywhere, much less a shop in a converted textile factory. "Well, if you don't believe me just come along," replied her traveling companion. Levine, having recently relocated to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, could not resist and was soon en route to La Buhardilla Antiquarios (The Attic Antiques).

Down an arched stone corridor in a small back room sat two wooden chests, a metal trunk, a wooden box, and a battered old suitcase. On the lid of the suitcase was the name "Sra. KAHLO DE RIVERA." The shop owners opened the five cases to reveal a jumble of objects, including paintings, drawings, keepsake boxes, annotated books, clothing, a diary, and other assorted items and ephemera. Levine picked up one of ten airmail letters, inscribed with the words "personal archive of Frida K. and personal archive of my private life."

Finding Frida Kahlo presents, for the first time in print, an astonishing lost archive of one of the twentieth century's most revered artists. Hidden from view for over half a century, this richly illustrated, intimate portrait overflows with fascinating details about Kahlo's romances, friendships, and business affairs during a three-decade period, beginning in the 1920s when she was a teenager and ending just before she died in 1954. Full of ardent desires, seething fury, and outrageous humor, Finding Frida Kahlo is a rare glimpse into an exuberant and troubled existence: A vivid diary entry records her sexual encounter with a woman named Doroti; a painted box contains eleven stuffed hummingbirds, concealed beneath a letter in which she laments her discovery that her husband, Diego Rivera, had been monstrously dissecting "these beautiful creatures" to extract an aphrodisiac; an altered French medical book describes the pain she was suffering from the amputation of her right leg, written by Kahlo upon pages that illustrate an amputation technique; a letter to a friend expresses her loneliness, and a simple request for coconut candies. Frida Kahlo never wrote an autobiography. Instead, she left behind a much more complex material universe. Finding Frida Kahlo offers scholars and fans alike an opportunity to examine firsthand Kahlo's secret world and draw their own conclusions about how she imagined her place in it.

Genres: Art, Womens, Nonfiction, Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 2, 2009

About the author

Barbara Levine runs project b, a curatorial services company specializing in archives, collections, vernacular photography, and artist projects. She was formerly director of exhibitions at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This is a gorgeously laid out book with incredible visuals, that oddly enough, were supported with fascinating text. I've always been fascinated my ephemera and the story it tells vs the story we recall, and this book is a nice tangent to that (although in Frida's case there is much history to supplement the ephemera and there isn't much supposition).

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explains the unlikely circumstances in which her personal effects were found and how they were collated and studied, culminating in this book.

Also further confirms stated aspects of her history as accurate, such as thoughts about her husband, lifelong experience of physical pain and her self-accepted bisexuality.

An engaging insight into the life and mind of Frida Kahlo the person, with handwritten stream of consciousness notes and poems.

Exposes fascinating details of her belongings and ephemera such as 'diaries, letters, recipes, notes, sketches' etc. which give the reader a real sense of her daily existence.

A wonderful read. So much so that I would like to have my own copy as I will want to look over it time again.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that this book was divided into two clear parts - the research/interview portion, and then the unpacking/translation portion. This was a haunting and personal look into one of my own personal heroes, and I finished it in one sitting. Frida's humanity really shines through in this book, and I appreciate the respectful and objective way in which the author(s) chose to present both the story of this collection's acquisition, as well as the presentation of its contents.

[Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this one. Commonly I see only one side of Frida. The political and doting partner to Diego Rivera but all the while slightly in his shadow. This mostly photographic tome of Frida's personal possessions shows another side. The biting sour side of her we hardly get to see. Her bitter feelings towards Diego shown in a most passionate and hilarious way. It made her all the more relatable and less of poor Fridita. This book is full or art we don't see, recipes and notes; it's charming and tangible enough if you cannot travel to the antique shop it resides in.

[Bhan13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a light read but ephemera, Frida Kahlo, musings on collecting, and lots of pretty pictures makes this book predictably enjoyable for me. Frida's self-portrait of herself as a deer with an Aztec figure above is one of my favourite pieces of hers, and the talk of forgery is political and to be expected and doesn't bother me a bit.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

there are not enough stars to rate the magnitude of beauty, craft, and composition (visual and narrative) contained in these pages. this is no coffee table space-holder. it is compelling, engaging, and absolutely stunning!

[reading is my hustle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful.

[Liberality · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written in English and in Spanish. Lots of pictures. I will enjoy it I think.