Frida. A Biography of Frida Kahlo
New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc., 1983. 1st Edition. Octavo, publisher's teal cloth, spine gilt, red endpapers, original illustrated dust jacket.
Signed first edition of Hayden Herrara’s authoritative biography of the legendary Mexican artist. Still regarded as the definitive portrait of Kahlo, Herrera's work details the painter's childhood during the Mexican Revolution, the life-changing bus accident that left her severely injured, her tumultuous marriage to Diego Rivera, her involvement with anti-imperialist politics and engagement with indigenous Mexican culture, and her symbolic subject matter and vibrant painting style. Herrera first encountered Kahlo’s work at a 1968 exhibition in Mexico City while a student at CUNY. Finding the paintings overwhelming and astounding, she began writing her dissertation on the artist, later extended into Frida. The biography, along with Herrera’s subsequent work on Kahlo, were instrumental in establishing Kahlo's reputation in the US during the early 1980s. The 2002 film Frida starring Salma Hayek is based on the book. Illustrated with color and black-and-white photos and reproductions; with selected bibliography and index. Signed by Herrera to the front endpaper. Light sunning to board edges, else fine in unclipped dust jacket. Item #7025
$175.00