A few days ago I visited a beautiful exhibition of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera paintings which was going on in Paris at the Musee d’Orangerie.
I think it was the first time I had seen so many paintings by Frida Kahlo. Her exhibitions are rare. Most of her works of art are in Mexico and
hardly ever come to Europe.
I have always been fascinated by Frida Kahlo, as a woman and an artist.
I have been attracted by her strong nature, ability to overcome so many difficulties that life had reserved for her – illnesses, handicaps, inability to have children– besides she was unattractive and lame. And yet she always came across as the most beautifully-dressed woman, who had many romantic liaisons and who continues to inspire artists and designers even today. I’m also interested in her because she is a Red Woman. Frida Kahlo was a communist.
And she was a painter. A great painter. Among others, the exhibition showed the most impressive series of her self-portraits. With incredible exactitude, they show the inner nature of a beautiful and talented young woman, portrayed with her favorite monkey, or her preferred jewelry, her hair decorated with Mexican flowers and ornaments, living through much pain and suffering because of her recurring illness. The exhibition also included a separate room with the photos of her and Diego Rivera.
Even if I have seen most of the photos and paintings in books as reproductions, seeing the originals is always much more interesting. They sho
Viva Frida!w nuances that help to better understand the works of art and the personality of the artist that the published editions often fail to reproduce.
