First published in the United States in 2016 by

Chronicle Books LLC.

First published in the United Kingdom in 2016 by
Frances Lincoln Ltd.
Text copyright © 2016 by Zena Alkayat.
Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Nina Cosford.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may
be reproduced in any form without written
permission from the publisher.

ISBN: 978-1-4521-5054-3 (epub2)

ISBN: 978-1-4521-6210-2 (epub3)
ISBN: 978-1-4521-6211-9 (mobi)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication

Data available.

ISBN: 978-1-4521-5023-9 (hc)

Chronicle Books LLC

680 Second Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

www.chroniclebooks.com
FRIDA K AHLO
An Illustrated Biography
by Zena Alkayat and Nina Cosford
 ““ I paint myself because i am so often
alone, because i am the subject i know best.''
Frida Kahlo
 MAGDALENA CARMEN FRIEDA KAHLO
Y C A L D E R O N W A S B O R N O N J U LY 6 ,
1 9 0 7, I N TH E H O U S E H E R F A TH E R H A D
B U I LT I N TH E B A R R I O O F C O YO A C A N
IN M EXICO.
 WILH ELM KA H LO WAS A H UNGA RI A N-
G E R M A N W H O E M I G R A T E D TO M E X I C O
A GED NINETEEN A ND CH A NGED HIS
N A M E TO G U I L L E R M O . H E M A R R I E D
M EXICAN M A RIA CA RDENA IN 1894,
B UT S H E D I E D, L E A V I N G B E H I N D TW O
D A U G H T E R S. TH E YO U N G G I R L S
W E R E P L A C E D I N A C O N V E N T. S O O N
A FTE R , G UI LL E R M O FE LL I N LO V E
WITH FRI D A 'S M OTH E R ,
M ATI LD E C A LD E RO N.
 TH E B E A UTI F U L M A TI L D E W A S
““ M E S T I Z A '' ( F R O M M I X E D I N D I G E N O U S
AND SPANISH HERITA GE). SHE M A DE A
FORMIDA BLE HOUSEWIFE, M A NA GING
TH E FINA NCES, TA KING TH E I R
F O U R D A U G H T E R S TO C H U R C H , A N D
T E A C H I N G TH E M TO C O O K , S E W, A N D
CLE A N. SH E E A RN E D TH E TITLE O F
““ M Y C H I E F '' F R O M F R I D A .
 The Kahlo
pr
ev
iou
sl
y
ma
rr
ied
M ar i a Cardena

M arMi aria Luisa

a- Luisa M argarita Guillermo Kahlo

M atilde A driana
Fa m i ly Tr e e

M atilde Calder o n

Frida Cristina
 FRI D A 'S FATH E R WAS A QUI ET M A N
O F H A B I T. H E H A D A N I N T E N S E G A Z E
AND SERIOUS M ANNER. HE PLAYED
T H E P I A N O , R E A D P H I L O S O P H Y, A N D
P A I N T E D W A T E R C O L O R S . TO M A K E
M O N E Y, H E S E T U P A P H O TO G R A P H I C
STUDIO AND PRODUCED AN
A C C L A I M E D P H O TO R E C O R D O F
M EXICO 'S A RCH ITECTURA L H E RITA GE .
 AT SIX , FRI D A FE LL I LL WITH PO LIO.
S H E W A S C O N F I N E D TO H E R R O O M
FO R NINE M ONTHS A ND H E R RI GHT
L E G W I TH E R E D. TO H E L P H E R G A I N
S T R E N GTH , H E R F A TH E R E N C O U R A G E D
H E R TO T A K E U P S P O R TS TH A T W E R E
U S U A L LY R E S E R V E D F O R B O YS .
 B UT D E S P I T E H E R TO M B O Y
A CTIVITI ES, H E R LE G R E M A IN E D TH IN
A N D M ISSH A PE N A LL H E R LI FE .
 FOOTBALL

BASEBAL
CYCLING
JUMPING
 TRE -CLIMBING SWIMMING

ROWING

BOXING
FRI D A INH E RITE D H E R FATH E R'S
LOVE OF NATURE.
H E E N C O U R A G E D H E R TO
EXPLO RE H E R LA NDSCA PE.
GUILLERMO HA D HIGH HOPES FOR HIS
FAVORITE DA UGHTER, AND IN 1922 HE
ENRO LLE D H E R IN TH E PR ESTI GIO US
N A TI O N A L P R E P A R A TO R Y S C H O O L .
O UT O F TW O - TH O U S A N D P U P I L S ,
FO URTE EN-YE A R- O LD FRI D A WAS ONE
O F T H I R T Y- F I V E G I R L S . H E R A I M W A S
TO R E A C H M E D I C A L S C H O O L .
 TH E S T U D E N TS P L A YE D A N A CTI V E
RO LE IN B UI LD ING A N E W M EX ICO,
O N E T H A T R EJ E C T E D T H E P E R V A S I V E
E UROPE A N FASH IONS IN FA VO R
O F A R E T U R N TO TH E C O U N T R Y ' S
I N D I G E N O U S I N D I A N C U LT U R E A N D
A M O R E A U T H E N T I C ““ M E X I C A N I S M . ''
 A M ONG TH E SCH OO L'S CLI QUES,
FRI D A FE LL IN WITH TH E CA CH UCH AS.
TH EY WE R E A N INTE LLI GENT A ND
D E E P LY M IS C H I E VO U S B A N D O F S E V E N
B O YS A N D TW O G I R L S . A S A P R A N K ,
TH E FRI ENDS ONCE RO D E A DONKEY
TH RO UGH TH E SCH OO L'S H A LLS.
 M A N Y A R TI S TS W E R E I N V I T E D TO
PA I NT M UR A LS ON TH E SCH OO L'S
W A L L S, B UT D I E G O R I V E R A W A S TH E
M OST FA M O US. TH E CE LE B RITY
M URA LIST A R RIVE D TH E YE A R FRI D A
STA RTE D A N D CO ULD O FTE N B E FO UN D
O N A S C A F F O L D I N TH E A U D I TO R I U M
WO RKING ON H IS FRESCO.
 YO U N G F R I D A W O U L D W A TC H TH E
T H I R T Y- S I X - Y E A R - O L D D I E G O W O R K .
B UT I T W A S TH E H A N DS O M E , C L E V E R
A L EJ A N D R O G O M E Z A R I A S ( A F E L L O W
C A C H U C H A ) T H A T S TO L E H E R H E A R T.
TH E TE ENA GE RS A R RA NGE D SECR ET
R E N D E ZVO U S, E X P L O R E D M E X I C O
C I T Y S T R E E TS, A N D W R O T E A R D E N T
L O V E L E T T E R S TO E A C H O TH E R .
 ““ Alex, write to me soon and even if it's
not true, tell me that you love me very
much and that you can't live without me.''
Letter, 1924
 O N S E P T E M B E R 1 7, 1 9 25,
F R I D A A N D A L EJ A N D R O W E R E
TRAVELING ON A BUS IN M EXICO
CITY WH E N IT CO LLI D E D WITH A
TR A M . TH E TR A M SM ASH E D TH RO UGH
TH E WOO D E N B US, KI LLI NG M A NY
I N I TS P A TH . A H A N D R A I L S T A B B E D
TH RO UGH FR I D A FRO M H E R L E FT
TO R S O TO H E R P E L V I S .
 A PA SS E NGE R 'S PA CK A GE O F
GO LD D UST B URST D URI NG TH E
A CCI D E NT A N D FRI D A 'S CLOTH ES
W E R E TH RO WN O FF I N TH E C O L L ISI O N.
SH E LAY ON TH E GRO UN D CO VE R E D
I N B LOO D A N D SH I M M E RI NG WITH
G O L D. H E R B O DY W A S PI E RC E D,
F R A CTU R E D, A N D C R U S H E D.
 TH E A CCI D ENT TRA NSFO RM E D
FR I D A . IT C L I PP E D H E R W I N GS A N D
S U BJ E CT E D H E R TO A L I F E TI M E O F
PA I N. IT LE FT H E R AT TH E M E RCY
O F SURGEONS, ENCASE D IN VA RIO US
P L A S T E R C A S TS, A N D H A U N T E D B Y
TH O U G H TS O F D E A TH .
A FTE R A M ONTH , E I GHTE E N-YE A R- O LD
FRI D A LE FT TH E H OSPITA L A N D W AS
M O V E D TO H E R B E D A T H O M E . S H E
P A SS E D A F U R TH E R TW O M O N TH S I N
H ER ROOM B EFORE SH E WAS WELL
E N O U G H TO L E A V E TH E H O U S E .
 F R I D A D R O P P E D O UT O F S C H O O L
B UT W A S E V E N T U A L LY A B L E TO T A K E
P A R T- T I M E J O B S I N O R D E R TO H E L P
H E R P A R E N TS W I TH H E R M E D I C A L
B I LLS. A FE W M ONTHS LATE R A
R E L A PS E S A W H E R R E T U R N TO B E D.

TO D I S T R A C T H E R S E L F, F R I D A
B O R R O W E D P A I N TS F R O M H E R
FATH E R , A ND H E R M OTH E R H A D A N
EASEL MA DE SO SHE COULD
P A I N T LYI N G D O W N.
 USING A MIRROR ATTACHED
TO TH E C A N O P Y O F TH E B E D,
FR I D A PA I N TE D H E R FI R S T S E L F-
P O R T R A I T- A L O V E R ' S G I F T TO
A L EJ A N D R O . B U T T H E R E L A T I O N S H I P
WITH H E R SCH OO L SWE ETH E A RT
WAS ON TH E ROCKS.
 S H E T R I E D TO W I N H I M B A C K .
A N D W H E N H E L E FT F O R A TO U R O F
E U R O P E I N TH E S P R I N G O F 1 9 27, S H E
C O N TI N U E D TO W R I T E H I M H O P E F U L ,
SO M ETI M ES A GONI ZE D M ISSIVES
FRO M H E R SICKB E D.
 FRIDA'S LETTERS WERE FILLED
W I TH A C C O U N TS O F H E R P H YS I C A L
P A I N A N D E M O T I O N A L A G O N Y, B UT
IN PERSON SH E WAS KNOWN FOR
H E R ““ A L E G R I A ''- A P U R E J O Y A N D
LOVE FOR LIFE. SH E WAS A CH A RM ER
A N D A N E N T E RT A I N E R A N D A L W A YS
P UT O N A B R A V E F A C E .
 W H E N A L EJ A N D R O R E T U R N E D
E I GHT M ONTHS LATE R , TH E PA I R
H A D LOST NON E O F TH E I R A FFECTION
F O R E A C H O TH E R . B UT TH E Y
A CC E P T E D TH A T L O V E H A D R U N I TS
CO URSE . TH EY R E M A INE D D EVOTE D
F R I E N D S TO TH E E N D.
 BY TH E TI M E SH E WAS
TW E N T Y, F R I D A W A S B A C K O N H E R
F E E T. H A V I N G S T A R T E D P A I N T I N G
W H I L E I L L , S H E N O W A S P I R E D TO
M A K E A L I V I N G F R O M A R T. S H E
SO UGHT A PRO FESSI ON A L EVA LUATI ON
O F H E R WO RK BY VISITING DI E GO
RIVERA, WHO WAS WORKING ON A
M URA L AT TH E NE A R BY M INISTRY
O F E D UCATI ON.
 D I E GO W A S I M PR E SS E D BY H E R
W O R K ' S ““ U N U S U A L E N E R G Y O F
E X P R E S S I O N , '' A N D H E W A S A L S O
TA K E N W ITH TH E FO RTH R I GHT A N D
S T R I K I N G LY A T T R A CTI V E F R I D A . I N
T U R N , F R I D A F O U N D D I E G O TO B E
B R I L L I A N T A N D I M PA SSI O N E D. TH E I R
I N T E R E S TS A L S O A L I G N E D.
 F R I D A W A S A M E M B E R O F TH E YO U N G
COM M UNIST LEA GUE A ND DIEGO WAS
A KE EN A DVOCATE FO R COM M UNISM
A N D I N D U S TR I A L I Z ATI O N. TH E Y S H A R E D
TH E CO UNTRY'S GRO W I NG FE RVO R
FO R M EX I C A NISM , E M B R A C E D N ATI V E
TR A D ITI O NS, A N D V A LU E D H UM B L E
F O L K C R A F T S A N D P O P U L A R A R T.
 FRIDA MARRIED DIEGO ON AUGUST
2 1 , 1 9 2 9 . S H E W A S TW E N T Y- TW O, H E
W A S F O R T Y- TW O . S H E L O O K E D L I K E
A B R I G H T, B E A UT I F U L B I R D N E X T TO
TH E R OTU N D, U N AT TR A CTI V E D I E GO.
S H E N I C K N A M E D H I M ““ F R O G - T O A D . ''
Frida y Diego
 D I E GO W A S O BS E SS E D W ITH H IS
C R A FT A N D P R I Z E D IT A B O V E A L L E L S E .
H E E N C O U R A G E D F R I D A TO D E V O T E
H E R S E L F TO P A I N T I N G A N D TO E X P L O R E
H E R O W N A R TI S TI C S T YL E . B UT TH E
Y O U N G B R I D E T H R E W H E R S E L F I N TO
B E I N G A G O O D W I F E . S H E C O O K E D,
C L E A N E D, A N D E N T E RTA I N E D.

EVE RY LUNCHTI M E , SH E PR E PA R E D A
B ASKET O F FOO D B LA NKETE D W ITH
F L O W E R S A N D D E L I V E R E D I T TO T H E
SCA FFO LD WH E R E D I E GO WO RKE D.
 D I E G O ' S P O L I TI C A L R E P UT A TI O N
SOON B E CA M E M UD D I E D. TH E
C O M M U N I S T P A RT Y W A S O UT R A G E D
B Y H I S R E A D I N E S S TO A C C E P T M U R A L
CO M M ISSI ONS FRO M TH E B O URGE O IS
ELITE A ND GOVE RNM ENT O FFICI A LS,
A N D T H I S L E D TO H I S E X P U L S I O N
F R O M T H E P A R T Y.
 IN NOVEM B ER 1930, FRIDA AND DIEGO
SET SA I L FO R TH E UNITE D STATES
WH E R E , D ESPITE TH E I R CO M M UNIST
Z E A L , M E X I C A N M U R A L I S TS W E R E
H I G H LY R E G A R D E D. D I E G O H A D B E E N
C O M M I S S I O N E D TO P A I N T A T T H E S A N
F R A N C I S C O S TO C K E X C H A N G E A N D T H E
C A L I F O R N I A S C H O O L O F F I N E A RTS .
 A FTE R S A N FR A NCISCO, TH E CO UPL E
S T A Y E D I N N E W Y O R K A N D D E T R O I T,
W H E R E M O TO R M A K E R E D S E L F O R D
A G R E E D TO P A Y D I E G O $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 F O R A
M UR A L D E PI CTI NG I N D USTRY I N TH E
D E T R O I T I NS TI T UT E O F A RTS . W H I L E
H E R H U S B A N D W O R K E D, F R I D A A L SO
A P P L I E D H E R S E L F TO P A I N T I N G.
 F R I D A C O N T I N U E D TO D R E S S I N
TR A D ITI ON A L COSTUM E I NSPI R E D
BY M ATRIA RCHAL TEHUANA WOM EN
F R O M S O UTH M E X I C O. S H E C A R E F U L LY
A SS E M B L E D H E R O UT F I TS E A C H
D A Y, W E A R I N G R U F F L E D S K I R TS A N D
E M B R O I D E R E D TO PS . I T W A S A L W A YS
A D A ZZLING ENSE M B LE .
 TEHUANA TOP
Frida's
Fuchsia pink
shawl

CAT-EYE
SUNGLASSES

Lipstick
Hand earings Tehuana Skirt
MintGre nBATHINGSUIT
FROM PICASSO
wardrobe
TIN CHARM
BLACK
LACE-UP

BLUEJEANS
HEELS
sliver RED
necklace LACE-UP
BOOTS

Green
Thehuana Shawl
Top
 F R I D A F E L L F O R A M E R I C A ' S M A LT E D
M I L K , D I M E S TO R E S , A N D M O V I E S
L I K E ““ T A R Z A N '' A N D ““ F R A N K E N S T E I N , ''
B UT F O U N D A M E R I C A NS, P A RTI C U L A R LY
TH E W E A LTH Y C I R C L E S S H E A N D D I E G O
S O C I A L I Z E D I N , T O ““ C O M P L E T E L Y L A C K
S E N S I B I L I T Y A N D G O O D T A S T E . '' S H E
R E N A M E D A M E R I C A ““ G R I N G O L A N D I A . ''
 LOWIS PALACE LOWIS PALACE
TARZAN TARZAN
THE APE MAN THE APE MAN
 F R I D A L O N G E D TO B E A M O TH E R
B UT W A S TH W A RT E D I N 1 9 3 0
WH EN TH E FETUS WAS IN TH E
W RONG POSITION IN H E R FI RST
P R E G N A N C Y. H E R S E C O N D I N T H E
SUM M E R O F 1932 E N D E D A FTE R
TH R E E A ND A H A LF M ONTHS
WITH A M ISCA R RI A GE TH AT
L A S T E D F O R TH I R T E E N D A YS .
 FRIDA CHANNELED HER ANGUISH
I N T O P A I N T I N G ““ H E N R Y F O R D
H O S P I T A L ''- A V I S C E R A L A N D B L O O D Y
WO RK D E PICTING H E RSE LF A LON E
A N D EX POS E D, S U R R O U N D E D BY
E M O TI O N A L LY S YM B O L I C I M A G E S.

““ I had such hope to have a little Dieguito. . .

but now that it has happened there is
nothing to do but put up with it.''
 F R I D A ' S P A I N TI N GS TO O K O N
A N E W D E P T H A N D I M M E D I A C Y.
TH EY EX PR ESSE D H E R R E A LITY
A N D P A I N A N D TO O K I N S P I R A TI O N
FRO M TR A DITIONA L A ND R E LI GIO US
M E X I C A N VOTI V E P A I N TI N GS.

““ my paintings are the most frank

expression of myself, without taking
into consideration either judgments
or prejudices of anyone.''
B A R E LY R E C O V E R E D, S H E W A S C A L L E D
H O M E WH E R E H E R M OTH E R W AS
DYI N G FRO M B R E A S T C A NC E R . A FTE R
J US T A FE W W E E KS I N M EX I C O,
F R I D A R E T U R N E D TO D I E G O , W H O H A D
B E E N C O M M I S S I O N E D TO P A I N T I N
N E W YO R K ' S R O C K E F E L L E R C E N T E R .

F R I D A W A S B I T T E R LY H O M E S I C K .
 DIEGO'S MURAL HAD BECOME A
CONTE NTI O US CO M M ISSI ON. H IS
D E PI CTI O N O F L E NI N, O P E N L E FTIST
VI E WS, A N D PO LITICA L M UR A LS
H A D RATTLE D TH E A M E RICA N
CONSE RVATIVES. M E A NWH I LE TH E
CO M M UNIST PA RTY CONTIN UE D
TO D E N O U N C E H I M F O R T A K I N G
C O M M I SS I O NS F R O M C A P I TA L I S TS.
 ON M AY 9, 1933 , A FTE R J UST A
FEW WEEKS OF WORK, DIEGO WAS
ESCO RTE D FRO M TH E B UI LDING
BY ROCKE FE LLE R'S GUA RDS. TH E
M URA L WAS LATE R D ESTROYE D.
 D I E G O 'S S E L F- C E N TE R E D C O M M I TM E N T
TO H I S W O R K M E A N T H E R E S I S T E D
F R I D A ' S P L E A S TO R E T U R N H O M E . B UT
TH E Y F I N A L LY S A I L E D F O R M E X I C O ( F O U R
Y E A R S A FT E R TH E I R A R R I V A L) I N D E C E M B E R
1 9 3 3 A N D M O V E D I N TO TW O M O D E R N
H O US ES TH EY H A D D ESI GN E D I N SA N
ANGEL. FRIDA 'S WAS BLUE; DIEGO 'S WAS
PI NK . A B R I D GE CONN E CTE D TH E I R
TW O S T U D I O S .
Diego
Frida
 F R I D A D I D H E R B E S T TO M A K E A
H O M E , B UT TH E S I T U A TI O N W A S
BLEAK. DIEGO RESENTED BEING BACK
I N M EX I C O A N D B E C A M E D ISPI R ITE D,
D I F F I C U LT, A N D U N W E L L . H E A L S O
E M B A RKE D ON A N A FFA I R WITH
FRI D A 'S CLOSEST SISTE R , CRISTINA .
 H A V I N G F A I L E D TO R E T U R N TO H E R
E A S E L F O R A Y E A R , F R I D A W A S F I N A L LY
I N S P I R E D TO P A I N T A F T E R R E A D I N G A
N E WS P A P E R A R TI C L E A B O UT A M A N
W H O H A D S T A B B E D H I S L O V E R TW E N T Y
T I M E S . ““A F E W S M A L L N I P S ' ' ( 1 9 3 5 ) W A S
A B R A CI NG D E PI CTI ON O F TH E TA L E .
““ I believe that by working i will
forget the sorrows and i will be able
to be a little happier.''
 TH E I RONIC TITLE R EVE A LE D
FRI D A 'S B LA CK H UM O R A ND TH E
A R R E S TI N G LY B L O O DY I M A G E O F
A B R UT A L I Z E D W O M A N B E T R A Y E D
H E R O W N W O U N DS. S H E B R I E FLY
M O V E D I N TO A N A P A R T M E N T B Y
H E R S E L F I N M E X I C O C I T Y.
 D I E G O D E T E R M I N E D LY C O N TI N U E D TO
H A V E A F F A I R S , A N D F R I D A , TO O, B E G A N
TO T A K E L O V E R S . H E R H U S B A N D
TO L E R A T E D H E R R E L A TI O N S H I PS W I T H
W O M E N, B UT S H E K E P T H E R L I A I S O NS
W I T H M E N A S E C R E T.
 I N 1 9 3 7, TH E E X I L E D R U SS I A N
C O M M U N I S T L E O N T R O TS K Y W A S
GIVEN ASYLUM BY DI E GO A ND FRI D A .
SH E H A D A B RI E F RO M A NCE WITH
T H E I R H O U S E G U E S T.
 FRIDA LOVED WEARING HER HAIR
IN B RA I DS A ND UN USUA L STYLES,
D R ESSE D WITH FLO W E RS A N D CO M BS.
 A R TI S T A N D R E B R E TO N V I S I T E D
M EXICO IN 1938 AND BRANDED FRIDA
A F E L L O W S U R R E A L I S T. B R E TO N W A S
FASCINATED BY H ER. FRIDA FOUND
B R E TO N P R E T E N TI O U S .

S H E H A D R E C E N T LY B E G U N TO P A I N T
W I TH M O R E F O C U S A N D D E B UT E D H E R
WO RK IN A SM A LL GRO UP SH O W. H E R
P A I N TI N GS F E A T U R E D A T R A D I TI O N A L LY
M EXICA N PR E DI LECTION FO R FUSING
R E A L I S M A N D F A N T A S Y.
Andre Breton
 TH RO UGH TH E SH O W, FRI D A
CA UGHT TH E ATTENTION O F
A M E RICA N A RT DE A LE R J ULI EN
L E V Y, A N D I N N O V E M B E R 1 9 3 8 S H E
T R A V E L E D TO N E W YO R K F O R
H E R FI RST SO LO EX H I B ITI ON.
B R E TO N W R O T E A N E SS A Y F O R
TH E CATA LO GUE O F H E R SH O W.

““ The art of Frida Kahlo is a ribbon

around a bomb.''
A ndrée B reton
 A L O N E I N N E W YO R K , F R I D A F E LT
L I B E R ATE D FRO M D I E GO, A N D H E R
CON FI D E NCE FLO URISH E D. SH E W A S
T H I R T Y- O N E Y E A R S O L D A N D D E E P L Y
S E D UCTI V E . SH E FLI RTE D A N D C H A R M E D
J U L I E N L E V Y A N D L A U N C H E D I N TO A
PA SSI O N ATE A FFA I R W ITH H UNGA R I A N
P H O TO G R A P H E R N I C K O L A S M U R A Y. H E
TO O K S O M E O F T H E M O S T I C O N I C
O F F R I D A ' S PO RT R A I TS .
NICKOLAS MURAY
 I N V I T E D B Y B R E TO N TO E X H I B I T
H E R WORK IN PA RIS, FRIDA TRAVELED
TO F R A N C E I N J A N U A R Y 1 9 3 9 . S H E
FE LL I LL WITH A KI DN EY IN FECTION
A N D TO O K A N A V E R S I O N TO TH E
CITY'S SURREALIST MILIEU, FINDING
TH E B O H E M I A N CI RCLES PO M PO US
AND FAKE.
W I T H T H E H E L P O F M A R C E L D U C H A M P,
SHE OPENED HER SHOW ON MA RCH
1 0 A N D E NJ O Y E D C R I T I C A L A D O R A T I O N
FRO M KA N D INSKY A N D PICASSO. TH E
LO UV R E M US E U M B O UGH T H E R S E L F-
P O R T R A I T ““ T H E F R A M E '' A N D ““ V O G U E ''
F E A T U R E D H E R B EJ E W E L E D H A N D
O N I TS C O V E R .
 B A CK AT H O M E FRI D A 'S CRITICA L
SUCCESS W AS TE M PE R E D BY A
BROKEN LOVE LIFE. MURAY HAD
STA RTE D SE E ING A NOTH E R WO M A N
A ND R E LATIONS WITH DI E GO W E R E
F R A U G H T. H E W A N T E D A D I V O R C E .
 F R I D A M O V E D O UT O F TH E I R
S A N A N G E L H O M E A N D I N TO H E R
C H I L D H O O D ““ C A S A A Z U L '' ( B L U E
H O U S E ) I N C OYO A C A N. A S TH E
DIVO RCE CA M E TH RO UGH ON
J A N UA RY 9, 194 0, FRI D A H A D J UST
F I N I S H E D ““ T H E T W O F R I D A S . '' I T W A S
F U L L O F V U L N E R A B I L I T Y A N D G R I E F.
 TH AT YE A R , FRI D A PA INTE D WITH
D ETE R M I N E D A PPLI CATI ON. IT W AS
A N A T T E M P T A T B E I N G FI N A N C I A L LY
I N D E P E N D E N T F R O M D I E G O, B UT H E R
WORK WAS ALSO DRIVEN BY AN URGE
TO P A I N T H E R S T A T E O F M I N D.
La Casd Azul
 F R I D A L O V E D TO S M O K E , L O V E D
TO D R I N K , A N D L O V E D TO G O
D A NC I N G, D E S PITE H E R L A M E L E G.
S H E L O V E D TO G O TO B O X I N G
M A TC H E S, W A TC H S T R E E T TH E A T R E ,
A N D L I S T E N TO M A R I A C H I B A N D S .
 A N A T T E M P T O N T R O TS K Y ' S L I F E
I N M A Y 1 9 4 0 I M M E D I A T E LY C A S T
SUSPICI ON OVE R D I E GO, WH O H A D
B R O K E N W I TH T R O TS K Y O V E R
PO LITICA L I D E A LS. DI E GO R ETR E ATE D
TO S A N F R A N C I S C O . F R O M TH E R E , H E
M A D E A B I D TO W I N F R I D A B A C K .
 DI E GO R E GR ETTE D TH E I R SE PA RATION
A N D W A S W O R R I E D F O R H E R H E A LTH -
B UT H E W A S C L E A R TH A T H E W A N T E D
F R I D A TO A C C E P T H I S P H I L A N D E R I N G
A N D F L A W S I F S H E W E R E TO A G R E E
TO R E M A R R Y H I M .
 O N D E C E M B E R 8 , 194 0 (L E SS TH A N
A YE A R SI NC E TH EY H A D D I VO RC E D)
TH EY W E R E M A R R I E D I N A QUI ET
CO URTROO M SE RVICE IN SA N
F R A N C I S C O . F R I D A H A D A G R E E D TO
M A R RY D I E GO ON TH E CON D ITI ON SH E
R E M A I N F I N A N C I A L LY I N D E P E N D E N T A N D
T H E R E L A T I O N S H I P B E P L A TO N I C .
 FO L L O W I N G TH E I R W E D D I N G, D I E GO
M O V E D I N TO TH E B L U E H O U S E W I TH
F R I D A . S H E TO O K G R E A T D E L I G H T
I N H E R R E T U R N TO D O M E S T I C I T Y,
R E D E C O R A TI N G TH E K I TC H E N I N
TRA DITIONA L M EXICA N STYLE A ND
A R RA NGING B RI GHT TA B LE A UX ON TH E
TA B L E U S I N G TH I N GS S H E ' D B O U GH T
I N T H E M A R K E T.
 F R I D A L O V E D TO O V E R L A Y H E R
O UT F I TS W I TH B E A DS, L A C E , R I B B O NS,
A N D J E W E L R Y A N D TO D E C O R A T E
H E R H A N DS W ITH M YR I A D R I N GS A N D
B A N G L E S . S H E A L S O W O R E TW O S E TS
O F TE ETH- A GO LD PA I R A ND A PA I R
STUD D E D WITH DI A M ONDS.
 D E S P I T E D E T E R I O R A TI N G H E A LTH ,
FRIDA FOUND PEA CE A ND RELIE F AT
TH E B LUE H O USE . SH E WO ULD TEND
TO T H E P L A N TS I N H E R G A R D E N,
LI E ON TH E PATI O B EN E ATH TH E
A FTE R NO O N S U N, A N D I N D ULG E H E R
M A N Y B E L O V E D P E TS.
 BONITO
MR XOLOTI The Amazonian
the Xoloitzcuintle PARROT
FROG

GERTRUDIS
CACA BLANCA
the Bald Eagle

ANOTHER
XOLO

FULANG-CHANG
The
GRANIZO sPIDER
the fawn Monkey
 F R I D A W O R K E D C O NS IS T E N TLY
IN TH E 1940S, PRO D UCING SO M E
OF HER B EST WORK. HER STA R
W A S O N TH E R I S E . S H E TO O K P A R T
IN SEVE RA L GRO UP SHOWS A ND IN
1 9 4 3 S H E W A S I N V I T E D TO T E A C H A T
LA ESM E RA LD A SCH OO L O F PA INTING
AND SCULPTURE.
 H E R D O W N - TO - E A R TH A N D
SPONTA NEO US TE A CH ING (WH ICH
O FT E N B U R S T O UT O F TH E C L A SS R O O M
A N D I N TO M E X I C O ' S S T R E E TS ) W A S
A H I T W I TH H E R S T U D E N TS. S H E
DEVELOPED A CLOSE ATTACHM ENT
TO A C O R E G R O U P W H O B E C A M E
P L A Y F U L L Y K N O W N A S ““ L O S F R I D O S . ''
 WHEN FRIDA COULD NO LONGER
M A N A G E TH E J O U R N E Y TO S C H O O L ,
SH E B E GA N TA KING CLASSES AT TH E
BLUE HOUSE. SHE ENCOURAGED HER
S T U D E N TS TO C O N N E CT W I TH N A T U R E
IN HER GARDEN AND HELPED SECURE
CO M M ISSI ONS FO R GRO UP M UR A LS.
 B Y 1 9 4 4 F R I D A ' S H E A LTH W A S F A S T
D E CLI NI NG. OVE R TH E N EXT D E CA D E
S H E W A S S U BJ E CT TO V A R I O U S
O PE R ATIONS ON H E R SPIN E A ND
FOOT AND WAS ENCASED IN
TW E N T Y- E I G H T D I F F E R E N T C O R S E TS .
TH E STE E L , LE ATH E R , O R PLASTE R
A P P A R A T U S W E R E D E S I G N E D TO
A LLEVI ATE TH E PA IN IN H E R SPINE .
SH E WO ULD WE A R TH E M FO R
M ONTHS ON END.
 F R I D A H A D A N O UTW A R D V I T A L I T Y
A N D FI E RC E CONN E CTE DN ESS W ITH
L I F E , B UT H E R P A I N T I N GS TO L D A
D I F F E R E N T S TO R Y.
““ W I T H O U T H O P E , '' ““ T H E L I T T L E D E E R , ''
A N D ““ T H E B R O K E N C O L U M N '' A R E
I N T E N S E A N D TO R T U R E D D E P I C T I O N S
O F H E R S U FFE R I NG.
 IN 1950, FRI DA SPENT A YE A R IN A
H O S P I T A L I N M E X I C O C I T Y. D I E G O TO O K
A ROO M NEXT DOO R , A ND FRI ENDS
W O U L D V I S I T E A C H D A Y. A S E V E R ,
F R I D A W A S D E T E R M I N E D TO O V E R C O M E
S A D N E SS. FO O D W A S S H A R E D, D I E G O S E T
U P A P R OJ E C TO R TO W A T C H L A U R E L
A N D & H A R D Y M O V I E S , A N D F R I D A TO L D
J O K E S A N D E N C O U R A G E D P E O P L E TO
G O S S I P A N D C H A T.
 ON LE A VING TH E H OSPITA L , TH E R E
W E R E G O O D D A YS A N D B A D. B UT
M UCH O F TH E NEXT TH R E E YE A RS
WERE A TRIAL OF INVALIDISM. FRIDA
W A S O FT E N C O N F I N E D TO H E R
B E D ROO M WH E R E SH E H A D TH E H E LP
OF A NURSE AND BECAME DEPENDENT
O N H E A V Y D OS E S O F D R U GS.
““ No matter how much i do to play the strong
one, there are times when i would like to
throw in the sponge.''
 FRIDA'S OLD SPA RK SURFACED AGA IN
IN SPRING 1953 WH EN A ONE-
WO M A N EX H I B ITI ON W AS A R R A NGE D
I N H E R H O N O R . U N A B L E TO W A L K
O N TH E D A Y I T O P E N E D, F R I D A S E N T
H E R FO UR- POSTE R B E D A H E A D O F H E R
A N D A R RIVE D I N GR A N D STYLE ON A
S T R E TC H E R . H E R F A NS A D O R E D H E R ,
A N D TH E I N T E R N A TI O N A L LY C E L E B R A T E D
S H O W D I D M U C H TO C E M E N T H E R
L E G A C Y A S A N I N C O M P A R A B L E A R T I S T.
 WHEN HER RIGHT LEG WAS
A M P UT A T E D I N TH E S U M M E R O F 1 9 53 ,
TH E R E A LITY O F LOSING A PA RT
O F H E R S E L F D R A I N E D F R I D A ' S S P I R I T.
S H E C O N TI N U E D TO P A I N T A N D
L O O K E D TO D I E G O F O R C O M F O R T.
H E R M OO DS B E CA M E E R R ATI C A N D
H E R D E T E R M I N A TI O N TO L I V E
S O M E TI M E S F A LT E R E D. B UT H E R
LAST PA I NTI NG (A STI LL LI FE O F
WATE RM E LONS) WAS SI GN E D WITH
T H E W O R D S ““ V I V A L A V I D A . ''
 O N J U LY 1 3 , 1 954 ,
F R I D A D I E D I N H E R S L E E P.
S H E W A S F O R T Y- S E V E N.

H UNDRE DS O F M O URNE RS
P U B L I C LY G R I E V E D. F R I D A ' S B O DY
LAY IN STATE AT TH E PA LA CE O F
F I N E A RTS. I T W A S S U R R O U N D E D
BY RED FLOWERS.
““ It is strength to laugh and to
abandon oneself, to be light.''
Frida Kahlo
Acknowledgments

The author has taken care to be accurate reprinted by permission of Bloomsbury

and faithful to the truth throughout this
book. For a wealth of detail, the author
would like to gratefully acknowledge the
evocative and brilliantly illuminating
Frida: The Biography of Frida Kahlo by
Hayden Herrera. As well as The Diary of
Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait
and Frida Kahlo by Christina Burrus.
The illustrator would like to extend
her love and thanks to Ali, Ma, Pops,
Jojo and Chester.
The quotations used in this publication
have been sourced as follows:
p5, p58, p74, p83, and p126 © 2015
Banco de México Diego Rivera & Frida
Kahlo Museums Trust. Av. 5 de Mayo
No. 2, Col. Centro, Del. Cuauhtémoc
06059, México, D.F.
Publishing Plc.
p44 from My Art, My Life by Diego
Rivera (Dover Publications, 1992).
Quotation reprinted by permission of
Dover Publications.
Every effort has been made to contact all
copyright holders. The publishers will be
glad to make good in future editions any
omissions brought to their attention.
About the authors
Zena Alkayat is a bestselling author,
book editor, and journalist from London.
Nina Cosford is a freelance illustrator
based in the southeast of England.

p27, p61, p62, p119 from Frida: The

Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden
Herrera (Bloomsbury, 2003). Quotations
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