Frida Kahlo (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)

Rating:
Summary: Frida Kahlo and painting self-portraits as therapy
Review: Two things will stand out in the minds of young students who read this engaging look at the artist Frida Kahlo. First, they have probably never seen an artist who did as many self-portraits as Kahlo, who was one of the greatest Mexican artists of the 20th century. Nine of these paintings are presented in this book. Second, they have also probably never seen a great artist who painted as a form of therapy as much as Kahlo. Mike Venezia points out that Kahlo sometimes painted unpleasant things from her life as a way of getting through hard times. Many of these paintings were considered shocking (e.g., "Sin Esperanza"/"Without Hope", painted after a serious illness) but Venezia points out that Kahlo painted them for herself, not for others to see. But even in that context, paintings like "My Dress Hangs Here," which showed Kahlo's feelings about having to live in a New York City she saw as being horribly overcrowded and polluted, are fascinating psychological insights into the mind of the artist.

As with most the volumes in his "Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists" series, one of Venezia's strengths is how he is able to put the work of a particular artist in the context of other artists of that time and place. In this case he provides examples of the work of David Alfaro Siqueiros, Jose Clemente Orozco, Jose Guadalupe Posada, and Diego Rivera, all of who influenced Kahlo. Especially Rivera, since Kahlo married him. As always, Venezia includes his own cartoons to help tell the story of the artist's life, but without sacrificing the lessons in art appreciation that are at the heart of his efforts. I do not know if I have even seen any paintings by Frida Kahlo before reading this excellent little book, but she is certainly one of the more memorable artists Venezia has introduced me to in this series.

Rating:
Summary: Frida Kahlo and painting self-portraits as therapy
Review: Two things will stand out in the minds of young students who read this engaging look at the artist Frida Kahlo. First, they have probably never seen an artist who did as many self-portraits as Kahlo, who was one of the greatest Mexican artists of the 20th century. Nine of these paintings are presented in this book. Second, they have also probably never seen a great artist who painted as a form of therapy as much as Kahlo. Mike Venezia points out that Kahlo sometimes painted unpleasant things from her life as a way of getting through hard times. Many of these paintings were considered shocking (e.g., "Sin Esperanza"/"Without Hope", painted after a serious illness) but Venezia points out that Kahlo painted them for herself, not for others to see. But even in that context, paintings like "My Dress Hangs Here," which showed Kahlo's feelings about having to live in a New York City she saw as being horribly overcrowded and polluted, are fascinating psychological insights into the mind of the artist.

As with most the volumes in his "Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists" series, one of Venezia's strengths is how he is able to put the work of a particular artist in the context of other artists of that time and place. In this case he provides examples of the work of David Alfaro Siqueiros, Jose Clemente Orozco, Jose Guadalupe Posada, and Diego Rivera, all of who influenced Kahlo. Especially Rivera, since Kahlo married him. As always, Venezia includes his own cartoons to help tell the story of the artist's life, but without sacrificing the lessons in art appreciation that are at the heart of his efforts. I do not know if I have even seen any paintings by Frida Kahlo before reading this excellent little book, but she is certainly one of the more memorable artists Venezia has introduced me to in this series.