Experts on the creativity of Frida Kahlo announced recently discovered counterfeit collection of paintings, drawings, letters, diaries and notes of the famous artist. Fully discovery will be published on 1 November this year

1 November this year, publisher Princeton Architectural Press is preparing to release a book on the recently discovered collections and archives of Frida Kahlo (Frida Kahlo). It should include reproductions of paintings, drawings, letters, diaries and notes of the famous artist. However, some experts have declared all these things forgery.

This «lost archive», which caused heated debate among experts, belongs to spouses Noyole Carlos (Carlos Noyola) and Leticia Fernandez (Leticia Fernández) - the owners of the antique store La Buhardilla Antiquarios in the Mexican town of San Miguel de Allende. They reported that acquired it in parts in 2004-2007 from one lawyer. And he bought it from a certain woodcarver, who allegedly received it from most of the artist. According Noyoly, in his collection of more than 1200 items. He did not name the amount that you paid for them, but said that before buying and his wife have collected some information confirming their authenticity. He also said that he would not sell the collection now, and has no plans to do so in the future.

256-page book about the «lost archive» will be called Finding Frida Kahlo ( «newfound Frida Kahlo»). Its author - Barbara Levine (Barbara Levine), a former director of the exhibition projects of the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco. In an e-mail newspaper The Art Newspaper, she wrote that «does not work on Noyola, and that they did not relate to any of the parts of the book». Levine also noted that undertook the study for personal belongings famous artist not to tell the story of her life, or to emphasize its role in the history of art. She decided to consider «the lost archive» in terms of human need talismans to collect, store commemorative notes, track the progress of time and leave something behind. «If I had to write a historical book about Kahlo, or tried to prove the authenticity of the collection Noyola, I would be first necessary to consult with experts on creativity of the artist - admitted Levine. - Their doubts are understandable, since the forgery of works of art come across very often. Therefore, in the historic opening is difficult to believe. I deeply respect and appreciate the views of experts and understand perfectly well: in order to fully evaluate each item in the collection Noyola and compare with the facts and fiction, it will take years ».

In a statement, Princeton Architectural Press says: «All doubts discussed in the book itself. It contains a long interview with the owners of the shop and the collection - family Noyola, who believe that the materials are legal in origin. This opinion is based on an analysis of chemists and handwriting as well as interviews with family members Kahlo, her followers and disciples ».

first reports of «lost archive» appeared in December 2005. Then in Mexico were «discovered» painting of a deer head Frida (motive, already encountered in the work of the author), as well as four works, to attribute the artist. After that, several Mexican art historians and collectors of these works have declared a hoax. Professor of Art tibol Raquel (Raquel Tibol) even told the press that if something similar happened in England, the author of these forgeries, to the seller and the owner would have to appear before the court.

In October 2008, images of objects from 75 collections Noyoly were published in the catalog «Labyrinth of Frida Kahlo», issued by the Center for Mexican art in Guanhuato. The book includes commentary philosophy professor from Vassar College Church, Jennifer (Jennifer Church), as well as the results of chemical analysis of material held by her husband, Daniel Friedman (Daniel Friedman). In a letter edition of The Art Newspaper wife said: «In our book, we do not express their opinion about the authenticity of the collection, we are not experts on the art».

The next episode in the history of the «lost archive» became official announcement in the NewYork Times in June this year of the discovery collections Noyola, and the publication of the book Finding Frida Kahlo in the Princeton Architectural Press.

But in early August a group of leading experts on creativity Calo launched an appeal to the Mexican National Council for Culture and the Arts (CONACULTA) and the National Institute of Fine Arts (INBA); experts have declared all the documents and work in this collection are fake and demanded to «stop this fraud and to clarify the situation». Their actions, they argued that the creativity Kahlo recognized artistic heritage of the Mexican nation.

Under the statement was signed by co-author catalog-reason Kahlo Salomon Grimberg (Salomon Grimberg); art dealer in Latin American art and an expert on the works of artist Mary-Anne Martin (Mary-Anne Martin); art Hörner Irene (Irene Herner); grandson of Diego Rivera, Pedro Diego Alvarado (Pedro Diego Alvarado); art historian, former director of the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City, Teresa del Conde (Teresa del Conde); scholar and archives Calo James Olesya (James Oles), and Kahlo biographer Hayden Herrera (Hayden Herrera). They drew attention to the fact that Noyola was expelled from the examination of the most renowned experts on the creativity of the artist. This statement is groundless. Even the author's forthcoming book, Barbara Levin acknowledged: «I am no expert on the works of Kahlo and I can not endorse any opinion about the authenticity or importance of the material ... I do not speak Spanish perfectly».

Director of the Museum of Frida Kahlo and executive committee member of the fund responsible for the copyright of the artist, Carlos Phillips Olmedo (Carlos Phillips Olmedo) reported that the fund Rivera - Kahlo did not recognize the collection Noyola genuine. A co-author of the catalog-reason Kahlo Salomon Grimberg said: «More than forty years, I look at the work of Frida and I can say that this is absurd and vulgar».

with them in solidarity and the New York art dealer Mary-Anne Martin (Mary-Anne Martin), dedicated to Latin American art. Through her hands passed numerous pieces Kahlo. «I think that publishers are victims of a huge hoax - she said. - Criminals have created all these letters, poems and drawings, using as a landmark biography of Frida and her published letters. Images performed poorly, infantile handwriting, the content of letters rudely; anatomy drawings like the instructions in the butcher shop. A picture - it's just an imitation, made from what has already been published. Provenance of these works is meaningless, and it is impossible to verify. I would be very glad if indeed been found previously unknown work of Frida. But all these works can hardly pass inspection in Sotheby's, Christie's or in my gallery. I am very surprised that they are generally able to move so far ».

James Olesya (James Oles), art critic from Mexico City, who worked a lot with save files Calo, said: «The very image quality and letters seems to me quite wrong. Not to mention the subject ». According to him, the fake product Kahlo, Siqueiros, Tamayo and other Latin American artists, occurs frequently. «On the market of modern and classic Latin American art demand greatly exceeds supply, so the fraudsters get away with much. From Picasso like it would be impossible ».

In his defense, Noyola said that he showed his collection of grand-daughter of Diego Rivera (Diego Rivera), Ruth Alvarado Rivera (Ruth Alvarado Rivera), which is no longer alive, as well as former students of Frida. In addition, he said: «None of the experts who have put their signatures under the appeal are not in touch with us and has not seen the materials in person».

Owner «lost archive» also does not exclude the possibility that things could be fake. «Our goal - to present the available material and information gathered, making no statements. In the end, the authenticity is always questionable. At the moment we believe that our collection does have some original artifacts that belonged to Frida Kahlo ».

But many people are very unhappy with the publication of a book about artifacts whose authenticity is questionable. «This is a pernicious phenomenon. After Frida was a complicated person and around it and it was quite the gossip and rumors. Now scientists are trying to understand all this, and the appearance of this book confuses the situation even more », - said James Olesya.

material produced Catherine Onuchin, AI

Sources: theartnewspaper.com , artinvestment.ru

P.S. The forgery Frida Kahlo can be found:

«After the death of Frida wrote more than lifetime »