Frida Kahlo: An Open Life [Paperback]

Raquel Tibol (Author), Elinor Randall (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1999

Frida Kahlo is probably the most idolized artist of her time. At the root of the scholarly speculation and pop-culture paraphernalia lies Frida Kahlo: An Open Life, first published in Mexico in 1983 and now available in an English-language paperback for the first time. This irreplaceable, eclectic collection reveals the complexities, profound sadness, and immutable creative spirit of the famed Mexican painter. The intimate picture of the often enigmatic Kahlo presented in this book has become an invaluable source for scholars. The author, a prominent Mexican art critic and historian, befriended Diego Rivera, Kahlo's husband, in Chile and in 1953 came with him to Mexico City, where she met and interviewed Frida Kahlo a year before Kahlo's death. She lived with Kahlo for a while in Coyoacón in Mexico City and then for a time at Rivera's San Angel Inn home. Frida Kahlo: An Open Life uses medical records, journals, letters, interviews, and personal recollections to bring us closer than ever to the Mexican artist and her milieu.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Tibol, a Mexican art critic, befriended Frida Kahlo in 1953, a year before her death. She portrays the Mexican painter as a strangely beautiful woman, an artist whose "pitiless immersion in the subconscious" yielded a "stern and tragic surrealism" with roots in Mexican folklore and photorealist painting. Originally published in Spain in 1983 and now ably translated into English for the first time, this sometimes sketchy yet intimately revealing biography splices the author's impressions, excerpts from Kahlo's journals, letters to her husband Diego Rivera, interviews, medical records and oral testimony by Kahlo. A bus accident in which she was involved at age 18 made the painter's life an ordeal of constant physical suffering. Tibol probes the spiritual strength that enabled Kahlo to rebel against adversity. In her view Kahlo was maternal toward the obsessive, childish Rivera, yet their marriage was nevertheless one of mutual nourishment, growth and support. Kahlo's frank discussions with Tibol about the psychosexual symbolism in her paintings makes this a valuable source for those who want to understand her art. Photos.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Rekindled interest in the life of Frida Kahlo is in full force. Nevertheless, this biography is a useful addition to the numerous books that have come out in the past seven years (e.g., Martha Zamora, Frida Kahlo: The Brush of Anguish , LJ 1/91; Hayden Herrera, Frida Kahlo: The Paintings , LJ 5/15/92). For one thing, it is written by a respected Mexican art critic and friend of Kahlo. For another, it adheres closely to source material such as diaries, letters, and exhibition catalogs. It is refreshing to note that unlike many publications, the book does not focus on the sexual behavior of the artist or her husband, Diego Rivera. Instead, the reader is given a generous dose of Kahlo's political and artistic views. Unfortunately, this is sometimes done at the expense of pleasurable reading. An inexpensive counterbalance from 1983 now in English.
- Susan M. Olcott, Columbus Metropolitan Lib., Ohio
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826321887
• ISBN-13: 978-0826321886
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,503,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Frida Kahlo, A Strong and Noble Survivor of a Trying Life, June 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Frida Kahlo: An Open Life (Hardcover)

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 from private conversations with Frida, as well as diary entries, medical records, and personal letters. Her life is filled with tragedy, but the book shows the incredible spirit of Kahlo as she faces near death and struggles as a female artist in a male dominated world. This book also gives the reader insight into the famed relationship of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Frida Kahlo: An Open Life, is written by Raquel Tibol who befriended Rivera in the 1950's and subsequently met and lived with Kahlo a year before her death. This book provides an unique perspective on the personal life of the very strong willed Kahlo.

2.0 out of 5 stars Frida Kahlo: An Open Life, January 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Frida Kahlo: An Open Life (Paperback)

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.