Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican Modernism

Book excerpt: The self-portraits of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo are renowned for their dream-like quality and emotional intensity. A passionate woman endowed with an indomitable spirit, Kahlo overcame injury and personal hardship to become one of the world's most important female artists. Celebrated by the surrealists in her own lifetime, she has attained cult-like status both for her extraordinary art and her tempestuous love-life with her husband, Diego Rivera, Mexico's most prominent modern painter. An outstanding selection of paintings by Kahlo and Rivera form the core of this catalogue, which accompanies the National Gallery of Australia's exhibition. Jacques Gelman, the Russian emigre film producer, and his wife, Natasha, built up their collection over many years of acquaintance and collaboration with Mexico's greatest creative artists. It is now widely regarded as the most significant private holding of twentieth century American art.