Art historian Joseph P. Cassar takes a close look at the works of Mexican artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo as he examines their relationship as husband and wife and how their marriage affected each other’s work. Even though Rivera assured her of her talent, Kahlo remained in the shadow of the internationally famous painter, with limited recognition during her lifetime for her own career as an artist. The role of Kahlo in Rivera's murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts, for instance, often goes unmentioned but it was she who daily tested the consistency of ground pigments that had to be prepared for his masterpiece—a task for which the artist did not trust his assistants.
Their similarities and contrasts in art and character are discussed by Cassar in a richly illustrated presentation that references key examples of their work and culminates in one of Kahlo’s most notable accomplishments: the purchase of one of her works by the Louvre in 1939.
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit*
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*Enrolled participants in the World Art History Certificate Program receive 1/2 elective credit. Not yet enrolled? Learn about the program, its benefits, and how to register here.
