Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera Mexican Revolution & Communism

I’ve never believed in God, but I believe in Picasso” - Diego Rivera

Biography Born: 1886 Guanajuato City, Guanajuato Self-Portrait, 1916 Biography Born: 1886 Guanajuato City, Guanajuato Studied in Europe early 1900’s 1922 Participated in founding an artists union, Joined the Mexican Communist Party (1922 - 1929) Married Frida Kahlo in 1929 (4 marriages total and countless affairs). Known as a womanizer.

Art Influences and shift Influenced by Cubism movement in Paris (Picasso, Braque, Gris) Later developed his style influenced by Post-impressionism Depicted Mexican art roots while representing the changes in the world around him, especially in regards to Marxism, Communism, and Industrialism

Mural Art and Politics “In the period following World War I, the literary, artistic, and intellectual vitality of post-revolutionary Mexico, in which the mural movement played an integral role, created a cultural ‘mecca’ that drew young artists from the US, Europe, and Latin America” www.diegorivera.org/biography.jsp

Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Central Park Hernan Cortes and other influences. Benito Juarez as president (freedom from France) Poor family, Revolution, corrupt presidencies

Man at Crossroads How does this image support the ideals of communism? Unfinished: Machine at the crossroads: capitalism vs. communism Glories of Communism vs. tech destruction of WW1 Workers Movement of Trotsky and Lenin on the head of swastika sculpture vs Zeus/Christianity/Darwinism and repression (powerless in the face of police)

Capitalism Communism Man at Crossroads Unfinished: Machine at the crossroads: capitalism vs. communism Glories of Communism vs. tech destruction of WW1 Workers Movement of Trotsky and Lenin on the head of swastika sculpture vs Zeus/Christianity/Darwinism and repression (powerless in the face of police)

There have been two great accidents in my life There have been two great accidents in my life. One was the trolley, and the other was Diego. Diego was by far the worst” - Frida Kahlo

Biography, Early Years - Born: 1907 Coyocoán, Mexico City, Mexico Father (Wilhelm) - German Photographer immigrated to Mexico, Married Mother (Matilde) 1913 - Age 6 - Suffered from polio, leaving her with a limp 1925 - Age 18, bus accident A train hit a bus she was riding on w/ her boyfriend. The handrail impaled her through the hip. never fully recovered (pain, scars, miscarriages) While on bed rest for two years, she began to paint

Relationship with Diego 1922 -Met him while attending National Preparatory School 1925 - Bus accident 1927 - joined the Mexican Communist Party, met Diego again 1929 - Married (despite 20 year age difference) one divorce in 1940, remarried the next year Incredibly volatile relationship (politics & affairs)

Late 1920’s - Early 1930’s: Travelled in Mexico and the United States while Rivera was working on commissions Developed own style of art (Surrealism, magical realism) Often self portraits Drew from Mexican Folklore, pre-columbian and catholic mythology, Mexican Revolution, and her own life experiences (pain, miscarriages) Themes of isolationism, rebirth, feminism, body awareness, pain

“Through her painting, she breaks all the taboos of the woman’s body and of female sexuality” - Diego Rivera, speaking about his wife

“They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn't “They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn't. I never painted dreams or nightmares. I painted my own reality” -Frida Kahlo

Stay with the Riveras 1936 - Trotsky offered asylum in Mexico Trotsky and Natalya (wife) sail to Mexico from Norway 1937 - Stay with Rivera and Kahlo in Casa Azul Affair between Trotsky and Kahlo. Diego finally had enough... 1939 - T & N move to a house close by (Avenida Viena) 1940 - (May) attempted assassination by machine gun, (August) assassinated by an ice axe

Title: Marxism will give health to the sick Year: 1954 Why do Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera choose Communism as the solution for Mexico?