January 18 - May 17, 2026
Frida: The Making of an Icon
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, United States
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Frida Kahlo
20
Basic Art Series
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Feminist icon, symbol of Mexican culture, political activist, groundbreaking artist: discover the many facets of Frida Kahlo, who transformed the afflictions of her life into unremittingly powerful paintings. In this introduction, Kahlo's body of bold, arresting works are presented alongside her turbulent life to shed light on the audacious face glaring defiantly from her self-portraits.
Hardcover, 8.3 x 10.2 in., 1.24 lb, 96 pages
Frida Kahlo
20Pain and Passion
The original and intimate art of Mexico’s most famous female painter
The arresting pictures of Frida Kahlo (1907–54) were in many ways expressions of trauma. Through a near-fatal road accident at the age of 18, failing health, a turbulent marriage, miscarriage and childlessness, she transformed the afflictions into revolutionary art.
In literal or metaphorical self-portraiture, Kahlo looks out at the viewer with an audacious glare, rejecting her destiny as a passive victim and rather intertwining expressions of her experience into a hybrid real-surreal language of living: hair, roots, veins, vines, tendrils and fallopian tubes. Many of her works also explore the Communist political ideals which Kahlo shared with her husband Diego Rivera. The artist described her paintings as “the most sincere and real thing that I could do in order to express what I felt inside and outside of myself.”
This book introduces the rich body of Kahlo’s work to explore her unremitting determination as an artist, and her significance as a painter, feminist icon, and a pioneer of Latin American culture.
In literal or metaphorical self-portraiture, Kahlo looks out at the viewer with an audacious glare, rejecting her destiny as a passive victim and rather intertwining expressions of her experience into a hybrid real-surreal language of living: hair, roots, veins, vines, tendrils and fallopian tubes. Many of her works also explore the Communist political ideals which Kahlo shared with her husband Diego Rivera. The artist described her paintings as “the most sincere and real thing that I could do in order to express what I felt inside and outside of myself.”
This book introduces the rich body of Kahlo’s work to explore her unremitting determination as an artist, and her significance as a painter, feminist icon, and a pioneer of Latin American culture.
The author
Andrea Kettenmann studied art history in Göttingen and Hamburg before joining the art history department of the University of Hamburg. She has published widely on Frida Kahlo and has contributed to numerous exhibitions and catalogues. She works as a freelance art historian in Mexico City, where she has lived for many years.
Frida Kahlo
Hardcover, 21 x 26 cm, 0.56 kg, 96 pagesISBN 978-3-8365-0085-2
Edition: EnglishDownload product images here
March 29 - September 12, 2026
Frida and Diego: The Last Dream
MoMA, New York, United States
June 25, 2026 - January 04, 2027
Frida: The Making of an Icon
Tate Modern, London, United Kingdom
December 04, 2026 - March 29, 2027
Lateinamerikanische Künstlerinnen: Von Frida Kahlo bis heute
Bundeskunsthalle, Bonn, Germany
January 31 - May 17, 2027
Frida Kahlo: Die Malerin
Fondation Beyeler, Riehen b. Basel, Switzerland
Born back in 1985, the Basic Art Series has evolved into the best-selling art book collection ever published. Each book in TASCHEN’s Basic Art series features:
• a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance
• a concise biography
• approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions
4.9
Descriptivo
December 27, 2021
Un buen aliado para los amantes de la obra de KahloBasic Art Series es genial
December 10, 2021
Estoy construyendo mi biblioteca y La serie Basic Art es genial porque provee con toda la información basica de los grandes artistas de la historia en una edición cuidada y preciosa. 100% recomendada, sobretodo si es para tener varios!Frida!
November 4, 2021
Another great book from Taschen! Takes you through essential Frida Kahlo.Always excellent...
November 4, 2021
I have been a customer of Taschen for some years now and have purchased publications ranging from Hockney and Bailey Art Editions to general interest art books. I have always received a professional and courteous service, provided by knowledgeable staff. Shipping has never disappointed and to date, I have made no returns. An excellent company producing quality publications.Un bel ouvrage
November 2, 2021
Hommage à cette femme singulière, extraordinaire.Special lady
October 29, 2021
Great summary of the life and works of a special Lady. Her life and works are difficult to summarize in one book but this book did it. For art and Kahlo-lovers: a must read.