After watching the Bio-Pic "Frida" (2002), Director: Julie Taymor, based on the book "Frida : A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera, I decided it wad time to read more of this Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) who married Diego Rivera and was an artist in her own write.

This book, "Frida Kahlo 1907-1954: Pain and Passion" by Andrea Kettenmann, Is a great and informative introduction to Kahlo, her art and the person behind the art. Not to sound shallow but the color reproductions and the photos are worth the purchase price on their own. However knowing what they are trying to portray always ads that extra meaning.

No matter what book or movie you buy this is an added must to your library and a different look at the life and times of Freda.

"Frida Kahlo 1907-1954: Pain And Passion" travels through her life and turbulances through her many paintings she drew throughout her life. This book is more than just her paintings. The auther shares the story of the inspiration of her every paintings. She shares everything in great detail that is highly accurate to Kahlo's living. Every page shows how Kahlo has inspired a generation of artists ranging beyond painting. It's great that the author wrote this book since many are unaware of Kahlo's work. Her words keep Kahlo's art and her life alive. This book is great for those looking to get inspired and to learn about this genius painter. Those wanting more should also watch the movie "Frida", starring Selma Hayak as Frida Kahlo.

This is a beautiful book but unfortunately I can't read it because it is printed in Spanish. Amazon had informed me that the English version is not available so I am returning it.

The ambitious Taschen art series excels at giving an artists works in a nutshell, covering the biography of the artist as well as it's best known works. Following the succcesful formula that has brought you more than fifty artists, from Boteticelli to Andy Warhol, this book on Frida Kahlo is a basic primer. This is the perfect book for someone to learn a little something about the Mexican artist and popular icon of the familiar soaring bird eyebrows . The short biography covers the major events of her tumultous life and graphically displays her most well known works accompanied by some black and white photographs of her with husband Diego Rivera and other notables from her era. The organization and brevity of the book make for the basic cliff notes on Frida. Compiled and researched well the result is a tasteful book for the basics. The perfect book for the casual observer to find out if more information is needed to be learned about this fantastic Mexican artist. It is satisfying but if more detailed insight is needed I would recommend two other books. One is the book the editor relies upon heavily by Hayden Herrera which is the defintive book about Frida Kahlo entitled "Frida A Biography of Frida Kahlo." The other I would recommend for further exploration is by Martha Zamorra entitled Frida Kahlo: The Brush of Anguish." Zamorra's hard to find Spanish edition is superb and much better than the edited English version. Nonetheless, the Tashen version is a good quality book full of vibrant color on good paper printed in Germany on stock that will last many years. Recommended for the art student or anyone interested in this most tormented soul who left her mark in art for the world to enjoy.

This beautiful Taschen volume by Andre Kettenmann takes the reader through the tormented life of this famous Mexican painter, just as famous for her own artwork as for being the wife of Mexican artist, Diego Rivera. Her works, from the surrealist to the more naif, all of them sexually charged and driven by her life's tragedys and happy moments, are discussed along with the times of her life when she painted them, allowing everyone to take a peek into Frida's soul some 50+ years after her departure from this planet.