Oil Painting Reproductions On Canvas

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera: Love or Lust?

Frida Kahlo Frida and Diego Rivera

Known for their revolutionary contributions to the art movement of the 1920s and 30s, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are just as much a study in artistic talent as they are in dysfunctional relationships. It’s no secret that there was a significant age gap between the couple, which is why it is perhaps no surprise that the two met at the National Preparatory School where Kahlo was a student and Rivera was a teacher. Kahlo was just 15 years old at the time, but she developed an instantaneous attraction to Rivera and swore that one day she would bear his child.

Although Rivera reciprocated Kahlo’s attraction, the situation was much more complex for him since he was already married to Lupe Marin. Despite the obstacles that prevented Rivera and Kahlo from being together, Kahlo often made attempts to keep Rivera’s attention (and make his wife jealous) by playing practical jokes on him. A stroke of fate would later bring the two together in a less conflicted time.

Since meeting in 1922, the pair had not seen each other again for quite some time. In 1928, mutual friend and photographer Tina Modotti reintroduced Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera to one another. The instantaneous attraction was felt once again, only this time it was much more favorable since Rivera was no longer married to Marin. After their initial meeting, the couple realized that they shared many passions in the field of art as well as politics. They were quickly married just one year later in August of 1929.

A short while after Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera married, Rivera’s artistic career had taken off an international level. The couple subsequently moved to San Francisco, later settling in New York. At this time, Kahlo was an unknown in the art world, only recognized by her title as Mrs. Diego Rivera. However, a miscarriage in 1932 would solidify her place in the art world forever. During her recovery period following the miscarriage, Kahlo naturally used painting as a means of coping with the tragedy. She painted what is now known as the self-portrait Miscarriage in Detroit, which exemplified her bold and emotional signature style that would ultimately make her the revolutionary figure she is today.

With Kahlo’s newfound fame as an artist, the question over where the two should live became an ongoing conflict between Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Rivera preferred the United States, while Kahlo still had an attachment with her homeland of Mexico. After several stormy arguments, Rivera finally succumbed and the pair moved to Mexico in 1935. Little did they know, this is where they would face their biggest conflict and heartbreak yet.

Shortly after moving to Mexico, Rivera had an affair with Frida Kahlo’s younger sister Christina. Upon hearing the news, Frida was devastated by the betrayal of two people she trusted and adored. Although Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera were able to reconcile their relationship following the affair, they never fully recovered. Both partners would later follow the trend of infidelity with multiple partners; Kahlo often with female partners as well. These acts resulted in a tumultuous relationship between the two, which finally ended in divorce in 1940.

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera kept their distance for the following years and each had several relationships as well. In 1950, Kahlo’s health began deteriorating and she turned to Rivera for support. The pair remarried that same year and Rivera was at Kahlo’s side on the day she died in 1954. Despite the violence and infidelity involved in the couple’s relationship, it would be misguided to say that Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera were not hopelessly in love with one another despite these obstacles. Lust certainly attributed to their attraction, but the persistence of their love despite all of their sins against one another proves that their love was what always held them together.

Related posts:

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 2:39 pm. It is filed under VISUAL ARTS and tagged with Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Mexican artists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.