Product Description

"I was considered a Surrealist. That is not right. I never painted dreams. What I depicted, was my reality." Our book zooms right into this reality, and it does so in a new and unusual way: presenting Frida Kahlo's paintings in a general view and in selected details, it reveals the wealth of stories and creatures hidden in her self-portraits; it makes tangible the life-long physical and spiritual pain endured by the artist; and it illustrates painterly skills and techniques reminiscent of old European masters. Making visible what tends to escape one's notice in her seemingly familiar paintings, this lavish volume takes even inveterate Kahlo fans on a mesmerizing discovery trip to the sensuousness, the beauty, and the abysses of her world.

This monograph presents Frida Kahlo's life and work in pictures. Frida Kahlo expert Helga Prignitz-Poda provides elaborate background information on each of the paintings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #556570 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 259 pages

About the Author
Frida Kahlo (1907-1958 in Coyoacán, a suburb of Mexico City), took up painting after an accident at the age of 18 from which she continued to suffer for the rest of her life.

A political and cultural activist married to Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, she became a legendary figurehead of new Mexican art and woman painting.

Helga Prignitz-Poda is an art historian and freelance curator specializing in Mexican art. She is the co-editor of Frida Kahlo. Das Gesamtwerk.

Customer Reviews

FRIDA The painter and her work , a review by Cheryl Millard
As a true affianado of Frida Kahlo, her art, her life ,I am always looking for new publications about her as well as the circumstances surrounding it.I must say that I had doubts as I waited for the arrival of this grand scale book,as what hasn't been said before.Well the day finally arrived and as I pulled it out of its wrapping I knew I was in for a pleasant surprise that was not anticipated.Once inside there are not alot of photographs of her in "Frida the painter and her work" as there are numerous books already dealing only with that subject matter.But the photographs that are used help you set a minds eye of the people surrounding her life.The text is well written and fresh and offers a new understanding of the symbolism she used in her paintings.Prignitz-Poda weaves the well read Fridas historical understandings of world mythology,eastern studies and the local Aztec belief system, these along with her injury,sorrows and often crazy relationship with the one true love of her life Diego Rivera (he was said upon her passing to have instantly aged) she created some of the most loved paintings of our time.Prignitz-Poda offers a fresh look at her art through the authors broad knowledge of mythlogy, religous practices and anthropological male-female relationships in our various cultures, past and present.Enough of the dry stuff lets get on to the book itself. It is an amazing coffee table presentation complete with a beautifully constructed slip cover cloth covered with two details of Kahlos paintings adorning either side,gold stamped on the spine.The book has a thick glossy dust cover that protects the beautiful red cloth covering with FRIDA KAHLO embossed red on red on the front cover ,the spine is gold embossed as is with the slip cover and Inside the paintings are depicted complete and uncropped, then followed with a series of detailed close ups that supports the authors interpretation.The paintings are faithfully reproduced for color and crisp detail right down to the brush strokes as the artist had intended them to be seen.Too often publications will remove such detail thinking that brush strokes is a destraction to the eye when in fact it is removing the realism of the painting often leaving a blurred photographic rendition .Frida was all about realism even if it was her own reality and the imagnative world surrounding it, the author faithfullly captures the artists intent as to her own (Kahlos)realism.The reproductions are truely superb in all aspects.
I would recommend this well written book for its fresh approach regarding her paintings and life without rehashing the sensationalism surrounding her life,the faithful color reproductions and the archival-like quality in the construction of the book is outstanding,It is a true must have for the Frida collector or for those just starting out on a labor of love.

A Different Kind of Kahlo Book...
The first 70 pages of text in this oversized book are divided into 5 sections:

1. Childhood 1907 - 1925
2. After the Accident
3. Frida and Diego's Marriage
4. Crazy Love 1941 - 1946
5. After 1946

Each section contains a biography, chronology and photos of that period of her life. The remainder of the book contains the plates...42 of her masterpiece paintings reproduced in full color and detail. Sections of the paintings are enlarged to reveal the intricate detail, the brush strokes and even the texture of the canvas. A descriptive analysis of each painting is included to provide an insight into its meaning and her inspiration to create the piece.

I find that some of the painting commentaries in this book are contrary to those I have read in other books. The author of this book sees the paintings from a slightly different perspective. I'm not sure I agree with some of them but everybody sees art in their own way.

This edition is presented in a beautiful stamped-linen, casebound box.
The format, content and size of this book are very similar to the large Kahlo book by Luis-Martín Lozano. The suggested retail price for this book is $125.00.

Five starts for a five star artist
As a keen admirer of Frida and somebody who buys almost every publication, art print, postcard or artifact of Frida I can ensure you that this book is worth buying.

Well presented on glossy paper! The real value of the book is that it presents Frida's work in their original size even more valuable and what is truly unique is that parts/sections of her paintings is emphasized by focussing on small details in her paintings which usually goes unnoticed by the untrained eye!

Truly a prozed possession!