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callmeperse's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
3.75
jacs63's review against another edition
informative
sad
medium-paced
3.0
I bought this book on a whim, after seeing the 'Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera' art exhibition in Auckland, New Zealand, a few days ago.
I wanted to read something about her life, and this was the most interesting book I could find in the independent bookshop we visited afterwards.
It's a quick and interesting read. Based on the apparent, short-lived affair/fling that the author's father had with Frida Kahlo, in Paris in 1939, just before WW2 started.
Its focus is mainly on the affair, albeit secondhand, but he also writes about one of Frida's paintings, 'The Heart' that she gifted to his father when the affair ended; Frida's troubled life and loves; her health; her artistic influences; her German and Mexican family background; the Mexican political situation and history; the situation in Europe in the 1930's, including the Spanish situation; Surrealism; and mentions many famous artists, including many from France. (Its quite the name-drop.)
ETC ETC ETC
The books covers many different topics, and I would suggest that's because you couldn't fill a whole book with the story of the father's short liaison with Frida. It does give an interesting context though.
At first I was not even sure if they did actually have the affair that he writes about, as it's a very one sided recollection of the affair, and even then its scarce in its proof. At the very end of the book, he includes a few brief excerpts from Frida's diaries, as proof though.
Frida had so many different affairs, while remaining 'connected' to Diego, and this was just one of them.
I wonder if the affair filled her time in Paris enjoyably, during a visit to show a collection of her art works at an exhibition? I'm sure it was lovely while it lasted, but neither seemed to be too committed to it.
Frida was still obsessed with Diego, and had just ended a relationship with the photographer Nicholas Muray. She also seemed to have some relationships with other woman while in Paris.
The author's father was the lover of a very rich and influential French woman, and he didn't seem too keen to break that probably very useful connection.
TBH, the book left me feeling a bit 'ICK'.
It's such a personal, intimate subject, but written by the son.
He didn't seem to know his father very well and I felt the same after reading this book.
It was a well written and easy read, but a bit one-sided. I will be searching out more rounded biographies about Frida Kahlo I think.
I wanted to read something about her life, and this was the most interesting book I could find in the independent bookshop we visited afterwards.
It's a quick and interesting read. Based on the apparent, short-lived affair/fling that the author's father had with Frida Kahlo, in Paris in 1939, just before WW2 started.
Its focus is mainly on the affair, albeit secondhand, but he also writes about one of Frida's paintings, 'The Heart' that she gifted to his father when the affair ended; Frida's troubled life and loves; her health; her artistic influences; her German and Mexican family background; the Mexican political situation and history; the situation in Europe in the 1930's, including the Spanish situation; Surrealism; and mentions many famous artists, including many from France. (Its quite the name-drop.)
ETC ETC ETC
The books covers many different topics, and I would suggest that's because you couldn't fill a whole book with the story of the father's short liaison with Frida. It does give an interesting context though.
At first I was not even sure if they did actually have the affair that he writes about, as it's a very one sided recollection of the affair, and even then its scarce in its proof. At the very end of the book, he includes a few brief excerpts from Frida's diaries, as proof though.
Frida had so many different affairs, while remaining 'connected' to Diego, and this was just one of them.
I wonder if the affair filled her time in Paris enjoyably, during a visit to show a collection of her art works at an exhibition? I'm sure it was lovely while it lasted, but neither seemed to be too committed to it.
Frida was still obsessed with Diego, and had just ended a relationship with the photographer Nicholas Muray. She also seemed to have some relationships with other woman while in Paris.
The author's father was the lover of a very rich and influential French woman, and he didn't seem too keen to break that probably very useful connection.
TBH, the book left me feeling a bit 'ICK'.
It's such a personal, intimate subject, but written by the son.
He didn't seem to know his father very well and I felt the same after reading this book.
It was a well written and easy read, but a bit one-sided. I will be searching out more rounded biographies about Frida Kahlo I think.
crafalsk264's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Browsing in Script Originals, I came across this partial biography of the Mexican surrealist artist, Frida Kahlo. Although I had no knowledge of who the artist was, I was intrigued by an attractive cover and by some of the publisher’s summary, so I gave it a try. The author is a son of Michel Petitjean who is said to be a lover of Khabo. A Mexican writer contacts Marc informing him of a short lived affair between his father and Frida during 1939. Frida had just learned her husband, Diego, plans to divorce her after his latest round of betrayals including a two year affair with Frida’s younger sister.
While in Paris, Frida paints her work “The Heart” showing a human heart on the sand at Frida’s feet bleeding out. When she leaves Paris, she gives this painting to Michel. So the author grew up with this painting as part of his daily life. The author gathers private papers which cover Frida’s time in Paris of 1939. Although there is abundant documentation of such an affair in Michel’s papers, there is little to no written documentation from Frida. Given the contradictory evidence, I am not sure that I can accept the author’s representation of the affair. What seems more factual is the description of her work during this period and Michel’s ownership of the painting written about in this book. I found the description of her work and the early biographical information of an artist I had never known about interesting. Recommend to readers who enjoy reading about art, artists, biography, France, history and works set during WWII.
sophyac's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.0
This book is written by the son a French man who had a brief but meaningful relationship with Frida during her time in France in 1938-39.
I always think it's fascinating to recount stories based on different points of view, they became completely new and that is what I felt while reading this.
Being from Mexico, this is not one of the tales of Frida Kahlo we know and its nice that after all these years we can still be introduced to parts of her life.
This is a quick read, where you can see a bit of the artists state of mind while in Paris, how the surrealist social group worked and peoples perspective on the impending war.
It's a charming tale of a Mexican artist lost in all the good and the bad of foreign costumes
I always think it's fascinating to recount stories based on different points of view, they became completely new and that is what I felt while reading this.
Being from Mexico, this is not one of the tales of Frida Kahlo we know and its nice that after all these years we can still be introduced to parts of her life.
This is a quick read, where you can see a bit of the artists state of mind while in Paris, how the surrealist social group worked and peoples perspective on the impending war.
It's a charming tale of a Mexican artist lost in all the good and the bad of foreign costumes
ellenjoannecampbell's review against another edition
2.0
Frida Kahlo and the artists and political agitators of her day is a fascinating subject but the story of her time and love affair in Paris is told in a rather dull manner.
angelasdream's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
I really enjoyed the story behind this book and it left me wanting more information. But that was also the problem with this book because it felt incomplete.
thebibliophage's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Originally published on my book blog, TheBibliophage.com.
Marc Petitjean separates fact from family legend in his biography, The Heart: Frida Kahlo in Paris. He explores the veracity of the family stories about his father’s affair with Kahlo in 1939. She gave the elder Petitjean, Michel, a painting she titled The Heart as a parting gift. As a result, the author spent many hours during his childhood gazing at the small but complex work. This book is an effort to put everything into the context of the era and the lovers’ lives.
Petitjean (how I will refer to the author) covers plenty of ground here. He combines biography, art history, political environments, and personal documents. There’s little solid proof about the affair beyond some letters from Michel (how I will refer to the author’s father) to Frida. If she wrote him, the letters are gone now. Nevertheless, Petitjean builds a story.
More of the book is about Frida than about Michel. But Petitjean addresses the lovers’ early lives, as well as their hopes and dreams. As he discusses the events of Frida’s visit to Paris, Petitjean explains her life in Mexico. He connects the tragic streetcar accident she suffered from with the details of the titular painting. And as he describes her fashion sense in Paris, Petitjean underscores her connections to native Mexican culture and dress.
The world around them
There’s plenty about the political aspects of that time as well. Both protagonists are affected by the world war they just survived, and the looming specter of the impending second war. They care deeply about the Spanish Civil War and have that in common. Petitjean puts their relationship in the context of all of this.
Another aspect of the book is the burgeoning surrealist art movement. While Kahlo doesn’t see herself as a part of the movement, her French benefactors shoehorn her into it. Petitjean is involved with both the movement and the gallery where her art is exhibited. Again, they share another commonality.
Despite all the turmoil around them, Michel and Frida find time for themselves. A wealthy friend offers them a place to stay together, though they both have other residences. The lovers make the most of their short time together.
My conclusions
Petitjean weaves together a cohesive narrative, despite the tenuous nature of his source material. He creates a complicated background of world affairs. And then he places vibrant characters in the foreground. Kahlo is particularly colorful, given her painting and personal styles. She is certainly the heart of the story. Michel is the planet orbiting around her sun, although Petitjean colors him with both shadows and light.
This is a slow-burn book, hard to settle into but ultimately compelling. I liked the personal nature of the story, given the author’s connection to the subject. I’m a longtime fan of Kahlo’s but this is the first book I’ve read about her. It won’t be the last.
I recommend The Heart: Frida Kahlo in Paris if you are also a fan of her work or of the surrealist art movement. Petitjean pulls together disparate subject matter into a thought-provoking biographical history.
Pair with Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d’Art by Christopher Moore for a light-hearted, fictional portrayal of Paris-based artists in a complicated time.
Marc Petitjean separates fact from family legend in his biography, The Heart: Frida Kahlo in Paris. He explores the veracity of the family stories about his father’s affair with Kahlo in 1939. She gave the elder Petitjean, Michel, a painting she titled The Heart as a parting gift. As a result, the author spent many hours during his childhood gazing at the small but complex work. This book is an effort to put everything into the context of the era and the lovers’ lives.
Petitjean (how I will refer to the author) covers plenty of ground here. He combines biography, art history, political environments, and personal documents. There’s little solid proof about the affair beyond some letters from Michel (how I will refer to the author’s father) to Frida. If she wrote him, the letters are gone now. Nevertheless, Petitjean builds a story.
More of the book is about Frida than about Michel. But Petitjean addresses the lovers’ early lives, as well as their hopes and dreams. As he discusses the events of Frida’s visit to Paris, Petitjean explains her life in Mexico. He connects the tragic streetcar accident she suffered from with the details of the titular painting. And as he describes her fashion sense in Paris, Petitjean underscores her connections to native Mexican culture and dress.
The world around them
There’s plenty about the political aspects of that time as well. Both protagonists are affected by the world war they just survived, and the looming specter of the impending second war. They care deeply about the Spanish Civil War and have that in common. Petitjean puts their relationship in the context of all of this.
Another aspect of the book is the burgeoning surrealist art movement. While Kahlo doesn’t see herself as a part of the movement, her French benefactors shoehorn her into it. Petitjean is involved with both the movement and the gallery where her art is exhibited. Again, they share another commonality.
Despite all the turmoil around them, Michel and Frida find time for themselves. A wealthy friend offers them a place to stay together, though they both have other residences. The lovers make the most of their short time together.
My conclusions
Petitjean weaves together a cohesive narrative, despite the tenuous nature of his source material. He creates a complicated background of world affairs. And then he places vibrant characters in the foreground. Kahlo is particularly colorful, given her painting and personal styles. She is certainly the heart of the story. Michel is the planet orbiting around her sun, although Petitjean colors him with both shadows and light.
This is a slow-burn book, hard to settle into but ultimately compelling. I liked the personal nature of the story, given the author’s connection to the subject. I’m a longtime fan of Kahlo’s but this is the first book I’ve read about her. It won’t be the last.
I recommend The Heart: Frida Kahlo in Paris if you are also a fan of her work or of the surrealist art movement. Petitjean pulls together disparate subject matter into a thought-provoking biographical history.
Pair with Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d’Art by Christopher Moore for a light-hearted, fictional portrayal of Paris-based artists in a complicated time.