Frida Kahlo Calderón

The Mexican National Archives remembers the artist with a series of images from different stages of her life.

Coyoacán by Propiedad Artística y Literaria, AGNArchivo General de la Nación - México

Frida Kahlo was born into a well-to-do family in Coyoacán, in 1907. Her father was Guillermo Kahlo, a renowned Mexican photographer at the beginning of the 20th century, and her mother was Matilde Calderón y González.

Bosque de Chapultepec, Ciudad de México by Guillermo KahloArchivo General de la Nación - México

His father, a notable photographer from Mexico at the beginning of the 20th century, embarked in Hamburg and arrived at the Port of Veracruz in 1890.

Frida Kahlo studio (1954/1955) by Mayo BrothersArchivo General de la Nación - México

She started painting as the result of fate: aged 18, she suffered a terrible accident that confined her to bed for a long period of time.

Frida painting in bed by Revista TiempoArchivo General de la Nación - México

As she recovered, she began to work on her painting skills—a hobby that would become a key part of her life.

Frida Kahlo with artists by Mayo BrothersArchivo General de la Nación - México

Her renown meant she enjoyed close relationships with intellectual and artistic figures of the day, including Diego Rivera, Leon Trotsky, José Clemente Orozco, and Carlos Chávez.

In a gala at Carlos Chavez house by Mayo BrothersArchivo General de la Nación - México

Thanks to her inspiration and artistic skills, Frida Kahlo stands out for her style, in contrast with the rest of the pictorial currents of her time.

Diego Rivera, Carlos Chavez and Frida Kahlo by Mayo BrothersArchivo General de la Nación - México

Arriving of Leon Trotsky and his wife, Natalia Sedova (1937/1937) by Mayo BrothersArchivo General de la Nación - México

Her political ideas involved her with figures of the national and international left, such as Leon Trotsky.

Frida and Diego at the rally by Revista TiempoArchivo General de la Nación - México

The communist flag over the coffin (1954-07-13) by Mayo BrothersArchivo General de la Nación - México

Frida dies on July 13, 1954, at her Casa Azul of Coyoacán

Diego Rivera at the funeral (1954-07-13) by Mayo BrothersArchivo General de la Nación - México

Fine Arts Palace, the last dwelling of Frida Kahlo (1954-07-13) by Mayo BrothersArchivo General de la Nación - México

The Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City was where the world said its final goodbye to the artist, with hundreds of people gathering to pay their tribute.

David Alfaro Siqueiros at Frida Kahlo funeral (1954-07-13) by Mayo BrothersArchivo General de la Nación - México

Credits: Story

Fondos:

-Archivo Fotográfico Hermanos Mayo
-Colección Fotográfica Propiedad Artística y Literaria
-Biblioteca Ignacio Cubas del AGN
-Colección Fotográfica Carlos Chávez
-Archivo Fotográfico Díaz, Delgado y García

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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