Talk:Frida Kahlo

Close to her father

I changed

"Their marriage was largely unhappy and throughout most of her life, Kahlo was closer to her father than to her mother. Her mother died shortly after she was born, leaving Frida with an unsatiable longing for that maternal connection"

to

"Their marriage was largely unhappy(dua). Throughout most of her life, Kahlo was close to her father. Her mother died shortly after she was born, leaving Frida with an unsatiable longing for that maternal connection."

because, if her mother died shortly after she was born, how could she ever be close to her mother? She was still a baby after all. If her mother died much later, the article should state that. --Gunsfornuns 19:29, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

Repetitions

The last paragraph in the 'Biography' section is almost identical to the last paragraph in the 'Backgroud' section. This is the paragraph concerning her trolley car accident in 1925. Randomfrenchie 22:01, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

Size matters

Could somebody please "translate" the size reference into the metric system? Thanks!

The eyebrow

Why in her paintings did she make the eyebrow stick out? Please message me back at my user name. --Cyberman 01:29, September 8, 2005 (UTC)

Well, i believe that it was taboo her eyebrows - Kahlo in her entierty is a taboo- but her eyebrows really personified that. Beauty is what you percieve, to Kahlo the statement of not conforming to what is traditional was beautiful. And thats a great statement to project in its own right & profoundly as well. BleuArtemis 06:16, 8 September 2005 (UTC)Bleu

As you probably know, Frida had a masculine side....perhaps the "uni-brow" was a way of expressing that side. Of course it became her signature trademark throughout her life.

The website below contains complete information on Frida Kahlo: Bio, paintings, photos, chronology, essay, books and films. Great research material.

• The Life and Art of Frida Kahlo

Freida Kahlo in life had dark thick eyebrows. As an artist, Freida's main subject was Freida, she rendered herself naked to the world with all her physical and psychological worts starkly revealed. It is her ability to deliver this self truth, beyond objective realizm, that is her work's most enduring quality.

--

I noticed that she also seemed to have either a deeply shaded upper lip or almost a slight mustache. She definitley had a masculine side...though I don't know whether the mustache and eyebrow(s) were intended to be a symbol of that.

Chasingrainbows 16:50, 18 January 2007 (UTC)Chasingrainbows, 1-18-07

Having studied numerous high resolution close-up photos of Kahlo, there is a clearly distinct 'shadow' on her upper lip, and she does indeed have what is commonly referred to as a "unibrow." These are natural features, and it is therefore not surprising that they show prominently in her self portraits. In some of the painintgs, it looks like she has perhaps exagerated the features a bit - but I do not have a chronology of her work to be certain. It is common for these features to be more prominent when people are younger. If the self portraits where the features are more distinct were some of her earlier works, that would make sense.

JC 06-04-07

Insane in the Membrane

"Frida Kahlo is believed to have committed suicide" Umm...hadn't heard anything to suggest this. There is a big difference between saying there were rumors and to have it accepted as true...

I would like 2 know if it is true 2!!!

According to Martha Zamora in her book "The Brush of Anguish", her death may have been caused by an accidental or intentional overdose of sleeping pills. She was suppose to take no more than 7 but took 11 that night. The doctors said that it was a pulmonary effusion....but we'll never know for sure. Mike, Sacramento, CA

Visit www.fridakahlofans.com for more info on the life and art of Frida Kahlo

- I have heard that Frida tried many times to kill herself. She found the pain of her illness too difficult. As for her death, it is unsure if she were successful at suicide or not. I think the mystery of it all makes for a better and melancholy story... but that really sums up Frida's life. --xsarahberries 20:20, 8 May 2006 (UTC)

In the book written by her niece Isolda Kahlo, it is heavily implied that diego rivera killed her to end her suffering.

Stalin

The Diego Rivera page mentions that Kahlo (and Rivera) became Anti-Stalinists contradicting what is mentioned here, that Kahlo spoke of supporting Stalin. It is not clear anyhow.

-Her last painting was of Stalin and herself. Frida and Diego became anti-Trotskyists.

What the blood clot?

What is this line doing in here? (although in reality she had no mustache and her eyebrows were separate; she simply added embellishments in her self-portraits) First of all, it's badly written, secondly why is it in parenthesis, and third - is it even true? I've never heard that, and I've been a long-time Frida fan. Joey 17:50, 28 January 2006 (UTC)

I have now removed it, it was only recently added but I'd thought I'd see if anyone else commented (really I should have just removed it until a source was provided). Arniep 18:01, 28 January 2006 (UTC)

She may have exaggerated the eyebrows and moustache in her paintings but these links [1] [2] seem to show that she does have joined up eyebrows. Arniep 18:03, 28 January 2006 (UTC)

I want to know since when it is okay to be a bisexual and be a Catholic. Blood clot people 'dem, 'dem a hypocrites and sodomites. [reggaegirl1love@yahoo.com]

--In Catholicism it isn't, but we condemn the homosexuality, not the homosexual. People expect God to eventually reach out to homosexuals and bisexuals some time in their lives and "correct them". What does that have to do with blood clots? --cadence

There is nothing wrong with being homosexual. Saying that you condemn the homosexuality but not the homosexual is like saying that you condemn catholicism but not the catholic, or that you condemn women but not any single woman. It's patronising and hypocritical: "I'll accept you if you pretend to be who I want you to be." Plent of homosexuals are raised catholic and want to abide by the Bible's teachings, but it doesn't mean they can't accept themseves as homosexuals. In addition to condemnig male homosexual acts, the Bible also says not to eat pork or wear mixed cloth. And it says nothing about female homosexuals. There are a lot of contradictions in the Bible itself. Anyone who lives by the Bible's teaching has to make a selection based on what the Bible says when applying them to contemporary life. Why trash the homosexuals instead of all the people walking around in poly blends? And what about all of the people in the military who break the commandment that Thou Shalt Not Kill? The most important thing to take from Christianity is that God is love. It doesn't say "God is straight love." But that means real love and understanding. Not hypocrisy.

But since this discussion isn't strictly about the Frida Kahlo page on wikipedia, here's something more relevant:

Add Link: New Items found at Kahlo's House?

Should there be a link to the new items (including letters to her doctor) that were recently found at Frida Kahlo's house? It seems to be a lot of material. The link from the Guardian is below. It also talks about her father's influence on her.

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1486443,00.html

Name Pronunciation

I get the FREE-dah part, but how is "Kahlo" pronounced? --Spesek 20:30, 6 July 2006 (UTC)

Something like "Kaw-low." -- Mik 20:34, 6 July 2006 (UTC)

It sounds like Car-Low

I don't think it sounds like either of these. There is no "r" sound nor is there a "w" sound. It is simply KAH-LOW. I guess the KAH sound is a bit like CO as in the word CONTENT. Carlitabay 18:06, 27 June 2007 (UTC)

It's Free-dah kah-loh (the "kah" is pronounced as cactus and "loh" as lofty) ~Michmoiyoume~

The Life and Art of Frida Kahlo

The website below contains complete information on Frida Kahlo: Bio, paintings, photos, chronology, essay, books and films. Great research material.

• Frida Kahlo Fans

Added 9/23/06 by Mike, Sacramento, Ca

Death

IT DOES NOT SAY A THING ABOUT HER DEATH!!!?!!?!??!?!!?!???!?!!

IT DOESN'T SAY HOW SHE DIED, WHERE, OR ANYTHING!! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Gplpark92 (talk • contribs) 02:12, 1 October 2006.

Eh? Whats that?... no need to shout.

Anyway, its good that someone has noticed that most of the article was missing. It looks like it was mainly deleted by User:129.49.163.40 on the 9th August. I've now restored it. -- Solipsist 02:47, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

There is conflicting information on this page. In the box up at the top, it lists her date of death as July 14, but then in the "Death" section, it says July 13. Which one is correct?--204.169.104.97 17:42, 16 July 2007 (UTC)

Cleanup

I added the tag as its addition seems justifiable by the sloppy punctuation, grammar etc. Philip Cross 13:56, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

Study of Medicine?

Under the subheading of, "Career as a Painter," it states, "After the accident, Kahlo turned her attention away from the study of medicine to begin a full-time painting career." This seems to come out of nowhere. The rest of the article says nothing about her studying medicine. Melissa Dilo 02:24, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

Relationship with Josephine Baker

I changed that to "her husband tolerated her relationships with women (it is speculated that actress Josephine Baker[citation needed] was among them). " since first of all, no citation is provided, and second of all after reading Josephine Baker's wiki, it said that her relationship with Frida was speculated. Source. (Bjford 15:42, 11 January 2007 (UTC))

Place of Death

From what I can see this article gives false information on where she died; she didn't die in Mexico City. She died in the Blue House, at home, though the causes are disputed. My source is from www.fridakahlofans.com, and if anyone can find evidence that she did not die at home, then please post in reply! --Ghrey 01:19, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

She dies in Mexico City. Coyoacan is about 20 minutes form downtown, is just in the south of the city, but still quite far of the exterior part. My source is... l live about two blocks from her house!!!! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Geape (talk • contribs) 22:59:09, August 19, 2007 (UTC).

Portrait caption

Clearly, the caption below Frida's Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940) should be amended to remove the phrase "and Unibrow". While her joined eyebrows were a notable physical characteristic, one she included exaggeratedly in her portraits, I've never seen the word "unibrow" appear in any formal titles of Frida Kahlo's works. I deleted those two words yesterday but find that they've been added again. Their presence is superfluous. Natedogg923 18:08, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

I think that is simple vandalism. It has been removed. I have earlier removed the word "unibrow" from several other parts of the article as well.·Maunus· ·ƛ· 20:11, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

I don't know how to reply to this, but the Blue House is in Coyoacan, a neighborhood within Mexico City. (I'm from there.)

== "Frida" vs. "Frieda" ==family

Hayden Herrera wrote in her comprehensive biography of Frida Kahlo that the artist's name appears as "Magdalena Carmen Frida" on her birth certificate, and that the addition of an 'e' to "Frida" ("Frieda") was an affectation she adopted in her youth - one that she dropped in the late 30's after the rise of Nazism in Germany. I've corrected the first biographical paragraph to reflect that fact. I hope everyone is amenable! Natedogg923 00:13, 25 April 2007 (UTC) Frida studied at the German School in Mexico City. She spoke German or at least she studied it for several years. The Deusche Schule "Alexander Von Humboldt" still exists, place where many Mexicans of German descent study. The largest German speaking community in Mexico is in Chihuahua though. They are the Menonites of Ciudad Cuahutemoc, reaching nearly 100,000.

She added this "e" as the article already explains because in german Frieden means freedom; she tried to emphasize this liberty aspect. Actually the pronounciation of Frida and Frieda in german is the same, "ie" is pronounced "i" (I speak german) ~Jemanden~

Frida's 100 anniversary coming up in a couple of days

Is Wikipedia going to feature this article on the frontpage on that so special day?

Father possibly Lutheran

Changed parts to include controversy whether or not her father was either Lutheran or Jewish.

Could you provide a cite for one of the sources to which you refer in the text? Thanks.--Evb-wiki 02:33, 29 June 2007 (UTC)

Interesting, this controversy doesn't exist in Mexico at all. She always claimed her father was Jewish and there was no reason to lie. Who created, and where does this controversy was created? Was it created by a Lutheran?

It is from new research in a book on Frida Kahlo's father- it was covered in the Jerusalem Post here. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel 23:38, 6 July 2007 (UTC)

Frida Kahlo's 100 birthday tomorrow July 6th, 2007

URGENT ACTION REQUIRED: If this article is not brought up to standard in 24 hours, it's not going to be featured tomorrow on Wikipedia's main page. They already have another candidate for tomorrow's main article. Is there any Frida Kahlo's fan whose English is top notch, and can bring this article up to standard in just a few hours?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Main_Page

The article is not up to that standard, and tomorrow already has a featured article. --AxG @ ►talk 15:05, 5 July 2007 (UTC)

Fix info on show in Mexico City

I made some modifications to the section on "100th birthday celebrations", changed it to past tense (the show is now over), and added a little more info and another reference, but it needs to be reworked. The yahoo news link seems to be dead. The reference I added was only so-so - a better one would be apppreciated. -- Pawl 19:16, 21 August 2007 (UTC)

Henri Rousseau

Please provide evidence that Frida Kahlo was aware of or was influenced by the work of Henri Rousseau. Thank you Modernist 19:22, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

These two artists are light years distant, not in the most remote regions are they similar. Rousseau - a naive dreamer, an add on to a private fantasy world; and Kahlo - mostly biting sharp, an observer, a participant, a player. Modernist 22:46, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

Nor is his colour all that vibrant in many of his most famous works when seen in the original - I've removed the phrase from the lead. Johnbod 00:56, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

Cultural trivia

Placed information about film grosses here, the argument stated is incorrect, Kahlo was well known long before the Hollywood version.Modernist 20:06, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

I agree that the most important thing about Kahlo is her career as an artist, not that a movie was made about her, and so while the movie should be discussed, I do not think that it belongs in the opening paragraph. -FisherQueen (Talk) 21:26, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

I certainly agree with FisherQueen that the article is primarily about Kahlo's career as an artist and the opening should reflect on her work and her life, not on Hollywood grosses. I think the auction information should also be removed from the intro.

For what its worth - The Fridomania section in the article discusses at length the rise to prominence of Frida Kahlo's reputation during the last twenty-five years, and is well worth reading. It was mostly written by a Mexican editor who claimed to be a neighbor, living near the Kahlo Museum, and who wrote at length about her impact in Mexico and beyond. Modernist 22:15, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

As I think about this -> a la Henri Rousseau <- I have to seriously wonder what that is doing in the intro as well. Please! It should also be removed, it is somewhat patronizing, and disrespectful to say the least. Modernist 22:34, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

Riposte from 70.18.5.219:

The fact that you agree with each other does not mean that you have a faintest clue about art, formal logic, synthesis, demand of encyclopedia readers, priorities. Your lack of logic is reflected by the above sentences: "...the article is primarily about Kahlo's career as an artist and the opening should reflect on her work and her life, not on Hollywood grosses. I think the auction information should also be removed from the intro.", as if the movie and auction record did not reflect on Kahlo's "career as an artist" or recognition. These facts prove her achievements and importance in the ultimate and neutral way, and Wikipedia exists for them. How many painters got a prize record or a movie??? Tell me you two art "experts", please? Without mentioning Henri Rousseau (the similarity is visible at the first glance), how 10 year old girls (and others, like you two) will know, where Kahlo's paintings came from, how they relate to other paintings, and where is the Kahlo's place in the world painting, please? Tell me you two art "experts", please?[[[User:70.18.5.219|70.18.5.219]] 23:25, 25 September 2007 (UTC)]

I suggest you two be very careful, when correcting an advanced writing on complex subjects, please! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.18.5.219 (talk) 23:22, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

I don't appreciate the personal attack. Violations of WP:NPA, WP:AGF, WP:CIV, but most of all a failure to understand WP:OWN. Modernist 00:33, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

Please don't be a jerk, anon editor. Many, many artists have had movies made and novels written about them, and none are mentioned in the lead para, nor should they be. Johnbod 00:49, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

I agree with the anon that the auction price is another detail that would be more useful later in the article, but isn't really necessary in the opening. In fact, I think that the opening isn't really that strong, and includes quite a few things that would work better later in the essay. May I offer an alternative that's a bit more streamlined? -FisherQueen (Talk) 11:15, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

Frida Kahlo (July 61907 – July 13, 1954) was a Mexican painter. She painted using a vibrantly colored style which was influenced by the indigenous culture of Mexico as well as European influences which include Realism, Symbolism, and Surrealism. Many of her works are self-portraits symbolically expressing her own pain. Although she has long been recognized as an important painter, public awareness of her work has become more widespread since the 1970's.

That's fine for opening sentences, but if intended to be the whole lead, nb the existing, much longer version is already far too short per WP:LEAD. But all parts of the article that I've seen are badly written, so go ahead. In this case I can live with the auction price in the lead. I thought it was the anon wanting to keep it there, but I may be wrong. Olga's gallery is not really a RS, though useful for pictures. Johnbod 12:10, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

• Yes, its anons idea to include the auction info in the lead, he placed it there on the 22nd. I placed it in a section called In popular culture. I am very uneasy about using Olga's gallery as reference, I'm going to eliminate it for now. If someone can improve other sections and the opening please do. Modernist 13:08, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

I'm also fine with the longer version of the intro, although I do think that the auction should be taken out and that the movie should not be in the intro. Actually, I think a paragraph about the movie would be appropriate, later in the article, but my saying so is pointless since I probably will forget to come back and write one. -FisherQueen (Talk) 15:05, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

• Riposte from 70.18.5.219: Johnbod, how cannot I "be a jerk"? I put time and effort to provide intelligent, deep, and referenced info in the lead to many people, and they "corrected" it to (read carefully, please):

Their 3 errors in the sentence "Frida Kahlo [...] was a Mexican painter who is now the best-known artist Latin America has produced.": Quasi redundance: Do we not know, that Mexico is in Latin America??? Subjective (not neutral): Who said that she is the best-known, and - if yes - to whom??? Poor style: People are not produced!!!

Their 4 errors in the sentence "She painted using a vibrantly colored style which was influenced by the indigenous culture of Mexico as well as European influences which include Realism, Symbolism, and Surrealism.": Formal logic: You do not use style, but have style!!! Formal logic: Styles are not colored, because are not material; only things can be colored!!! Logical: Strictly speaking, her style was not influenced by the indigenous culture of Mexico, which did not include oil painting, only her themes (subjects, painting depictions) were influenced, because "style" means way, form, technique, method; her style was influenced by Henri Rousseau's paintings and only "inspired" by the indigenous culture of Mexico (a nuance requiring a sensitivity and expertise). Formal logic: They wrote: "style which was influenced by [...] European influences", but influences do not influence, only the styles or movements do!!!

Their 2 errors in the sentence "Although she has long been recognized as an important painter, public awareness of her work has become more widespread since the 1970's". Subjective (not neutral): Who had recognized her as important? Contradiction: What kind of recognition was it, if the public had not been aware of her?

Do you propose a discussion from a, b, c,... or 2+2=4, please? [[[User:70.18.5.219|70.18.5.219]] 22:21, 26 September 2007 (UTC)]

Anon - If you think something can be improved, put something here in simple and coherent and correct english. That attracts an agreed consensus and that reflects a modicum knowledge of art - so far I haven't seen much, except the Hollywood, Sotheby's I read the biography links and the newspaper variety. Also try reading these: WP:OWN, this WP:CIV, and this WP:NPA and then reflect on this WP:AGF For the record - I put time and effort to provide intelligent, deep, and referenced info in the lead - you've got to be kidding, You wouldn't be experiencing all this resistance if that were the case, try some self reflection. - Modernist 02:54, 27 September 2007 (UTC)

From 70.18.5.219: Dear Modernist! You must be not listening or not understanding! That, what you wrote, does NOT meet nor is even close to the requirements of WP:LEAD. Additionally, it is full of basic errors (and mistakes) listed by myself just above your message I am responding to. Would you be so kind to answer in response to that listed litany of your errors, please? I am not going to simplify my language for you, but, putting it in a simple English - in case you do not understand it (as it is implied by your words: "put something here in simple and coherent and correct english"; b.t.w. it should be "simple, coherent, and correct English") - that, what you wrote is, simply speaking, just... unacceptable and shameful, and you are not responsive. Even, if you do your best and in good faith, it is not enough. You need skills!!! Because of such your clearly visible limitations, I am not going to submit my writing for your approval. I propose that you restore my last lead (intro) version, write here, what you do not like in it, and I will fix it for you... dear. Sincerely, yours [[[User:70.18.5.219|70.18.5.219]] 08:34, 27 September 2007 (UTC)].

Hi, anon! I didn't really like the opening paragraph, either. So I proposed a specific alternative opening paragraph. Other editors didn't really dig my proposal- they thought it was too short, and didn't give enough information. I proposed it without insulting anyone or getting mad that the article wasn't already awesome, and when my idea was politely shot down, I didn't get mad or anything. I may yet propose something different, if I get a few minutes to write something. You can do just what I did- offer an alternative opening paragraph, put it here to see how it works, and talk with others about how to come up with the best version. We do that while the article is protected, and then it gets unprotected when we agree on something that we all can live with. That's how Wiki works, and it works beautifully when everyone is polite and respects one another's ideas. -FisherQueen (Talk) 10:52, 27 September 2007 (UTC)

Right. I thought yours was fine as opening sentences, btw, it's just if it was mean to be the whole lead section then more needs to be added - WP:LEAD says the lead section should summarize the whole article (few do of course). I just rewrote the para quickly based on the discussion here & things I didn't like (plus having seen enough Rousseaus in the original to know their colour is not really very vibrant, unless souped-up in reproduction). I don't think most of anons points are valid, but I am not attached to my version. Johnbod 14:30, 27 September 2007 (UTC)