KAHLO and RIVERA

I had been aware quite recently of some Rivera paintings that struck me as less than brilliant not to say kitsch. I had been a fan of Frida Kahlo since being introduced to her work by my former colleague art curator, Carol Brown and her fellow educator in all things artistic, Christine Newton both of whom I worked with at MOMA in Oxford. 

We did a series on the Mexican Muralists featuring a one man history show curated by David Elliot on 'Orozco' but I was more drawn toward the overtly political but somehow more decorative work of David Siquireos and also the monumental radical work by Diego Rivera. Rivera was a larger than life figure in more ways than one and yet his partner suffered in his shadow until much later. I much prefer her autobiographical work than the architectural posturing of the greatness of the menfolk however politically noble the message. But how do they compare when it came to easel painting? Much of Rivera's work for murals was executed upon linen first and the painted style and graphic accuracy here was a wonder. (see below) but by the thirties and forties he seemed to have lost something. Indeed he seemed to have completely lost any semblance of 'message' or even skill or style. Some of the later pictures of film stars and children are mawkish to the point of parody but that they were serious is a given surely?

“Gloriosa Victoria.” Oil on Linen - D Rivera

Something very odd happened at this time and his work seemed to become almost consciously kitsch and rather similar at times to the dreadfully glaring kitsch of Margaret Keane (she who painted the awful big eyed cats and children paintings so popular in the sixties) They even featured and appeared to be currying favour with the figures of Hollywood as the portraits of Linda Christian and Paulette Goddard, amongst others, prove. Was Diego prosituting his art for the highest bidder? The paintings of Goddard are still stunning and have a semblance of his once great style but by the time he is painting a garish distorted portrait of Linda Christian the style and craft is gone. 

Goddard by Rivera

Goddard with her 'vanity' piece by Rivera

'Linda Christian' by Rivera

Portrait of Maria Felix-a Mexican actress - Rivera

Rivera painting Felix

Actress Silvia Pinal by Rivera in his studio in San Ángel

Rivera

Rivera

Child with Calla lillies-Rivera 

Portrait of Ignacio Sanchez - Rivera 

Portrait of a Young Mexican Peasant boy wearing a Straw hat and holding an Orange - Rivera

Portrait of an Actress - Rivera 1948

To me these later paintings bear little to no resemblance to the painted style, the graphic mark making if you will, as seen above in the mural study “Gloriosa Victoria.” What happened?

Kahlo as a young woman at her peak 

Whilst she may have fallen to the cult of personality, it seems clear to me her work is a far far superior form entirely to that of her mentor, lover and twice married husband (sic) despite the tempestuous nature of their relationship, both seeking lovers at various times, it is obvious the lasting work is done by Kahlo. Whilst apparently happy to be the subservient figure in the relationship, she seemed to know her own greatness was her destiny (see the article below) working even when in great pain and discomfort she remained a truly great and totally unique painter to the very end

Frida after her operation on her spine still working

Rivera and Frida

“You deserve a lover who takes away the lies and brings you hope, coffee, and poetry.” 

― Frida Kahlo

“I recommend her to you, not as a husband but as an enthusiastic admirer of her work, acid and tender, hard as steel and delicate and fine as a butterfly’s wing, lovable as a beautiful smile, and as profound and cruel as the bitterness of life.” 

― Diego Rivera

Vintage B&W portraits of Frida here . . . .

Frida has the last word . . . .