"I April 1953, less than a year before her death," Herrara begins in her preface to Frida, "Frida Kahlo had her first major exhibition of paintings in her native Mexico. By that time her health had so deteriorated that no one expected her to attend. But at 8:00PM, just after the doors of Mexico City's Gallery of Contemporary Art opened to the public, an ambulance drove up. The artist dressed in her favorite Mexican costume, was carried on a hospital stretcher to her four-poster bed, which had been installed in the gallery that afternoon."
With such a strong imagery, Herrara opens her biography of one of art history's most infamous artists with a force.
The Early Years
Frida Khalo was born in Mexico City during a time where women, especially women artists were not as appreciated as they were today. However, Frida was not about to let that stop her. It is through her strong imagery and through her equally as strong personality that Frida Kahlo was able to make a name for herself that resonates even through modern day. Her magnetism and originality resonates strongly through this biography.
The Affairs
As interesting as Kahlo was for her own work, her personal life played an integral part in who she became. Kahlo, though married to fellow Mexican painter Diego Riviera, she went on to have infamous affairs with such men as Leo Trotsky upon their co-habitation.
La Casa Azul
Translated, Kahlo's home means the "blue house." It is here where the artist lived and would later die. It is located in Coyoacán, Mexico City. Upon Diego Riviera's death in 1957, the home was donated and became a museum which now showcases the life and work of Kahlo. Before her passing, it was a very happening spot.
Posthumous Notoriaty
It is strange that such a flamboyant and outspoken artist would not be recognized during her lifetime. It was not until several decades after her death that Frida Kahlo was recognized for her painting. Before that, she had only been known as the late wife of Diego Riviera. Partially, her fame came from Herarra's biography and from the movie it would alter inspire. By 2002, another movie portraying the life of the struggling artist hit the silver screen. It stared Selma Hayek as the artist and brought an even greater light onto the artist.
Present Day
In 2008, a traveling exhibition that included many of the artist's paintings and portraiture was seen around the United States, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Frida by Hayden Herrara is available for purchase through Harper Perennial with ISBN 0060085894.
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