Frida Kahlo: The Still Lifes

Editorial Reviews

Grimberg, a psychiatrist and art historian, has authored and edited several books and exhibition catalogs on the poignant life and works of Frida Kahlo. In these two recent books, Grimberg focuses both on Kahlos creative process and on how her works, self-portraits and still lifes, complement each other and serve as windows to consider the artist and her other paintings. Song of Herself centers on a series of interviews between Kahlo and Olga Campos, a psychologist and Kahlos friend; Kahlos words have been grouped together to present her revealing musings on a variety of subjects, such as children, sexuality, politics, and her own body. Following the interviews are two brief sections, one that details the artists medical history and the other, an assessment of the artist by a modern-day psychologist. In the landmark book Still Lifes , Grimberg critically examines each of Kahlos documented still lifes (all 40 that are known are reproduced here), showing how they complement the self-portraits and reflect the character of the artist just as well. In addition to color reproductions of Kahlos striking art, these two titles include black-and-white photographs of the artist. Offering original perspectives on Kahlos life, art, and mind, Grimbergs books are recommended for academic and special libraries with art history, psychology, or gender studies collections.-Jennifer Pollock, Yale Ctr. for British Art, New Haven, CT