Raiders of the Lost Archive

Between 2004 and 2007, a couple who own an antique store in Mexico allegedly acquired more than 1,200 objects thought to have belonged to Frida Kahlo, which are the subject of a new Princeton Architectural Press book, Finding Frida Khalo: Diaries, Letters, Recipes, Notes, Sketches, Stuffed Birds, and Other Newly Discovered Keepsakes.


Some Kahlo scholars believe that these objects are fake. As New York-based Latin American art dealer Mary-Anne Martin suggests, she believes that the publishers “have been the victims of a gigantic hoax.” 
On the other hand, Christopher Knight, art critic at the Los Angeles Times, seems to think the objects may be valid, although perhaps not overly valuable. His term: ephemera. He has said he has seen the items first-hand in Mexico on three occasions; Martin and other detractors have only seen facsimiles in news story photos and the book. And the Finding Frida Kahlo authors, Barbara Levine and Stephen Jaycox make no claims to be Kahlo experts.
Last week both Knight and Martin were guests of KCRW’s Ruth Seymour on The Politics of Culture. If you like Punch-and-Judy shows, this may be the podcast for you.
Above: Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird.