A purported Frida Kahlo archive is the subject of dispute

A corollary to Godwin's Law says that, in any dispute, the first person to mention Adolf Hitler loses, because the argument has been instantly and irretrievably degraded. The Holocaust's villainy is singular.

In the current dust-up over a soon-to-be-published book about an archive of ephemera attributed to iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, a researcher who denounced it as a total fake also called the book the biggest fraud against the public since the 1983 publication of the bogus Hitler diaries. Applying Godwin, that's one strike for authenticity.

The previously unknown archive is the subject of Princeton Architectural Press's forthcoming book, "Finding Frida Kahlo." It’s hard to say whether or not the archive's 1,200 items, including everything from sketchy small paintings to a recipe for corn flan, are genuine. But it's worth noting that none of those who have gone on record to denounce it -- including more than a dozen art historians, museum professionals, dealers and artists, plus an errant blogger or two, mostly in Mexico City but some in New York -- has ever laid eyes on the material. (The Hitler diaries commenter also confessed, "I admit, I haven't seen the works ... ") Godwin doesn't say what to do in that disheartening case, but the word "degraded" certainly still applies.

Coincidentally, I have seen the purported Kahlo archive -- not once, but several times. (For lots more photos, click through to the jump.) In Sunday’s Arts and Books section I'll have a story about the dispute, plus some thoughts on what's driving the controversy -- and what needs to happen next.

-- Christopher Knight

 

 

 

 

Photos: Pieces in an archive of 1,200 items attributed to Frida Kahlo. Credit: Christopher Knight / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Jed Paradies]

Having seen the Noyola Collection and the results of studies by well respected scientists and recognized experts on Frida Kahlo, I am surprised by the critics' visceral attack of the collection and the Noyola's personally without having seen any of the work in person. This is a serious collection that deserves serious study.There is a protocol to authenticate or disqualify a work of art, none of which these detractors have yet to begin.A cursory look at photo-images does not a study make. The critics failure to personally examine the work or follow accepted methodology casts doubt on their opinions and raises questions about their motivations.
The Noyolas acquired the collection four years ago and have been working diligently to authenticate it since. They have consulted with scientists and experts in an array of fields.
The collection has been authenticated by Arturo Garcia Bustos, Arturo Estrada two members of the “Fridos”, students of Frida Kahlo for more than 10 years and Rina Lazo an assistant to Diego Rivera and a co-signator on two of his murals.Bustos, Lazo,and Estrada are recognized master painters and muralists as their magnificent murals in the Anthropology Museum in Mexico can attest.Who better than her own students to recognize the work and words of their teacher? They were very close to Frida, involved in her art and life, painting side by side with her.There are no others except the Fridos living or dead who can make such a claim.
Javier Vasquez Negrete is a chemical engineer and forensic scientist and has worked for the Bellas Artes for many years. He performed pigment studies on 10 paintings in the Noyola collection and has dated them to the 1940s and further stated the signatures are integral to the paintings.Certainly no one was forging Frida Kahlo work in the 1940s. Frida had difficulty selling her own paintings then. J.V.Negrete was the only scientist to sit on the panel of experts at the Frida 100 year retrospective at the Bellas Artes in 2007 which included Bustos,Estrada,and Lazo. When one of the very same critics of the Noyola Collection, Raquel Tibol, cried "fake" when seeing one of the paintings in the exhibition,the curators of the exhibition enlisted Negrete to perform pigment studies to date the work, just as he did for the many paintings in the Noyola collection. The conclusion of the Bellas Artes was that the painting "Portrait of Alejandro Gomez Arias" is an original Frida Kahlo.
Handwriting analysis has been performed by a renowned graphologist in Mexico City,Juan Rogelio Abraham Dergal attesting that the hand writing is in fact that of Frida’s.
There are 1200 pieces in this collection, revealing intimate details of this historic artist's life. The Noyolas have treated the collection with respect, following the rigorous requirements of authentication. Nothing less should be demanded from those who would have the world ignore this collection.

[Donald Frazell]

She was at best a mediocrity, made into a vehicle to sell books and movies, for Madonna and others. It was decided a woman heroine was needed, preferrably with one eyebrow and crippled so no one could denigrate her work. We live in a PC world after all. Hell, she wasnt even a Mexican, like Tina Modotti, though she was a hottie. Both married or hung around those of import, and were characters. Thats it.

Of course by todays standards, she is a Titan. Thats what you call damning with faint praise. Glad you see my boy JJ over at the Guardian, they love me over there too.

art collegia delenda est

[Christopher Knight]

This is Christopher Knight, correcting Donald Frazell. Frida Kahlo was Mexican, born the third of four children in Mexico City in 1907. Her father, Wilhelm Kahlo, was born in Germany, and emigrated to Mexico at 19. Her Mexican mother, Matilde Calderón y Gonzalez, was of indigenous and Spanish descent.

[Donald Frazell]

The United States is the only country in the world where if you are born on our soil, you are automatically a citizen. It has served us well, and must not end, but most countries need both parentes to be of determined ethnic stock to be of that nation, or a complex series of tests and qualifications are needed, usually involving money and how much is brought with the person.

She was born of a German, who no matter how he changed his name as an adult was still German, Though I do believe it was Czech/Germanic stock actually. Again, like Tina Modotti, who was Italian and a notorious attention digger, marrying and sleeping with numerous artists and communist leaders. Khalo was a mildly talented but easily ignored amateur, whose connection to Diego gave her some validity int eh art "world". As derelict of talent as it is now, those with it chosing to go into more relevant fields.

Her "naive' art is mostly borrowed, and more interesting as illustration for a life than creative art. Perfect, for our attention needy and shallow times. She is a construct of an art industry in need of talent and marketable icons, not truly passionate art. Not terrible, but hardly worthy of movies and museum shows. She is hardly a true talent, or Mexican, like the great but mostly ignored Rufino Tamayo. Many middle class and wealthy Americans look like her, but not him. Get it?

art collegia delenda est