1. Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera
Mexican Revolution & Communism

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

3. 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 ( )
Married Frida Kahlo in (4 marriages total and countless affairs). Known as a womanizer.

4. 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

5. 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”

6. 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

7. 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)

8. 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)

9. 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

10. Biography, Early Years -
Born: Coyocoán, Mexico City, Mexico
Father (Wilhelm) - German Photographer immigrated to Mexico, Married Mother (Matilde)
Age 6 - Suffered from polio, leaving her with a limp
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

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

12. 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

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

14. “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

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

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