Friday, September 23, 2022

Frida Kahlo, beyond appearances, Palais Galliera

 

Palais Galliera celebrates Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), one of the most recognized and influential artists of the 20th century. I was going to post on Frida on Thursday. Then I fell down the rabbit hole of Paris chocolates and fashion windows. 


The Kahlo exhibition is the first in Paris to focus more on her image and clothing collections and their influence than her paintings. It’s a way to understand how she built an identity by how she presented herself and represented herself in her own paintings.

For years this collection was hidden behind this green door at Casa Azul, where Kahlo was born and lived most of her life. 

After Kahlo's death in 1954, her husband, the muralist Diego Rivera, gifted Casa Azul and its contents to the Mexican people. 
But hundreds of Frida Kahlo's photographs, dresses and other belongings were locked up for 5 decades. 

Rivera asked his friend and patron, Dolores Olmedo, to keep her belongings private for 15 years

But motivated by jealousy of Kahlo, Olmedo instead let the collection sit idle till after her own death when they were rediscovered by chance in 2004.

Early portraits taken by her father, here at age 4 years old.  She wore elaborate hair bows even then. Frida’s mother came from a Spanish -Indigenous family from Oaxaca. Her father was a German emigrant and a leading government photographer. 

Frida, as a child, accompanied her father everywhere because of his epilepsy. Hence she developed a strong sense of her self image from the many portraits he took of her. Her house was full of mirrors. 

There are so many inspirational stories about her life. Frida did not have an easy childhood. She contracted poliomyelitis at 6 and invented an imaginary friend who would later become her double in her paintings. 

At 18, she was involved in a serious tram accident that left her bedridden for months. This is when she began to paint instead of going to medical school. She has become such a source of inspiration to artists when we are feeling blocked. 

Of course there is her mariage to her mentor in 1929, the renowned Diego Riviera. They were nicknamed, “the elephant and the dove”. 
Kahlo said,“I have had two serious accidents in my life. One was being hit by a tram. The other is Diego”. 
For her wedding she wore the traditional headdress 
worn by Tehuana women, the resplandor, and then painted herself wearing it. 
Kahlo 
remains, even today, an icon and great source of inspiration for so many designers.The first floor of the Palais Galliera, noted for their fashion exhibitions, is a collection of contemporary designers directly influenced by Kahlo including Alexander McQueen, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy, Maria Grazia Chiuri for Dior or Rei Kawakub.
 
And Jean Paul Gaultier of course who developed the multi-belted corset in 1998.
 Who can resist that iconic image?
Thank you for reading Paris breakfast. If you like this newsletter, share with a friend. Gift yourself and others Paris letters, maps, watercolors in your mailbox📫  Bon Weekend PBers ❤️💋🇫🇷


21 comments:

  1. Ellen A.3:43 AM

    Your portrait of Kahlo is very sympathetic, and brings out the intelligence in her beauty.

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    1. Anonymous7:52 AM

      Thank you…I need to do more…she is elusive ❤️ Carolg

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  2. Just simply beautiful!

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    1. Anonymous10:10 AM

      Thank you Daina xxCarolg

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  3. Anonymous7:51 AM

    this blog post was so informative. I did not know about her polio nor being hit by a tramp. These are huge life altering events. What a strong woman! She overcame so much and thought so highly of herself. Very moving
    The watercolor at the bottom really captures her. Thank you Anabel

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  4. Well done!Enjoyed the movie with Selma Hayek..

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    1. Anonymous7:54 AM

      Can you believe I have not seen it 😬 and it was on Netflix for a while! I was not a fan 😳 previously…Now I am Carolg

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  5. Anonymous7:59 AM

    Lovely painting of Frida!

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    1. Anonymous10:09 AM

      Thank you! She is quite a challenging Carolg

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  6. Cindy Williamson8:53 AM

    I can't get the etsy link to work and I'd like to get a copy of the Frida Kahlo portrait sent to a friend - suggestions?

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    1. Anonymous10:09 AM

      Hi Cindy! The link works for me. It’s an original watercolor. A single item. Not a print. Carolg

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  7. Cindy in Oregon11:34 AM

    Frida has become an icon! I visited her Casa Azul in 1985 and again in 2008. By then there were busloads of people and her clothing and personal items were displayed. The lace on the bottom of her skirts had to be removed when laundered and she had to stitch them back on. Don’t miss her Casa if you are in Mexico City.

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    1. Anonymous11:42 AM

      Lucky you! And Wonderful details Carolg

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  8. Anonymous11:53 AM

    I don’t know if I have a google account! Everything’s an account! Too much! Anyway, there was a Frida show at the de young museum in San Francisco not too long ago, closed down for a while during Covid precautions. Displayed some of her outfits. This show in Paris looks more extensive. Please do some Frida-themed artwork we can purchase. You’re great! Gina

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  9. Anonymous1:21 PM

    Carol, I love seeing the texture of your WC paper in your wonderful paintings. Do you always use the same brand/kind?

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  10. I love her wardrobe on display. I could never pull that off but I love how it looks. And the vintage photos are spectacular.

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  11. Beautiful portrait of Freida...she has l-o-n-g been a big fave of mine. She has SO many facets, one never tires of her. So wish to see this exhibit...will there be more pix?
    Thanks so much for this...bisous talented lady...!

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  12. WOW, lots of good info I didn't know about her. Your watercolor of her is beautiful - I'm sure she would love it.

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  13. Bonnie L10:39 PM

    Terrific exhibit! Her clothes are fabulous! ❤️

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  14. So glad I visited today! I thought about you the other day, thinking how nice it is to have very meaningful blogs to follow! I adore your blog, your beautiful art, watercolor paintings, going to places I shall never go to. I am truly thankful for your sharing of so much beauty and information. THIS is fabulous, Frida Kahlo, magnificent! More paintings of her, yes please!

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  15. Thank you for sharing this. Took my 3-year-old granddaughter to this exhibit at DeYoung Museum in San Francisco last year, wearing flowered headbands. We will again wear the headbands when we go to Diego's exhibit next week at SFMOMA.

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