

"Frida Kahlo (Frida Rivera)", 1938, RARE Exhibition Catalogue, Julien Levy Gallery NYC.
1938
This rare exhibition catalogue from Frida Kahlo's 1938 American debut at the Julien Levy Gallery in New York represents one of the most historically significant pieces of printed ephemera associated with the artist's career. Issued for the show running November 1 through 15 at 15 East 57th Street, the catalogue introduced Kahlo to an influential circle of New York collectors and critics at a pivotal moment in her international rise. The opening generated considerable fanfare, and the evening's cultural weight is underscored by the well-documented account of actor and collector Edward G. Robinson purchasing four of her paintings that very night. Surviving examples of this catalogue are extraordinarily scarce, and many respected art historians and Kahlo scholars have never encountered a physical copy, making this a document of genuine rarity within the field. Measuring 43.2 by 27.9 centimeters and bearing Kahlo's signature, the catalogue is presented in excellent condition with only mild foxing consistent with its age, a testament to the care of its private New York provenance. The piece occupies a unique position at the intersection of art history and printed matter, functioning simultaneously as primary documentation of a landmark exhibition and as a collectible object in its own right. For those drawn to Kahlo's legacy, the works she produced in this period, rich with surrealist undertones and deeply personal iconography, were receiving their first sustained American audience precisely through this exhibition. To hold this catalogue is to hold a direct material record of that cultural moment. Collectors pursuing museum-caliber ephemera will find few opportunities as compelling as this one. Primary documents tied to a singular figure in twentieth-century art, particularly those connected to a verifiable first and offering strong provenance, rarely surface on the market. This catalogue is offered through VINCE fine arts/ephemera.
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- Gallery · VINCE fine arts/ephemera
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