Items Similar to A Tina Modotti photograph of a Diego Rivera Mural
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 2
Tina ModottiA Tina Modotti photograph of a Diego Rivera Mural1920s
1920s
About the Item
A 1920s Tina Modotti photograph of a Diego Rivera mural, depicting the Agricultural School in Chapingo, Mexico. Stamped “Photographs-Tina Modotti Mexico, D.F.” on reverse.
Tina Modotti was born in Udine, Italy in 1896 and by the age of 14 she was supporting her entire family by working in a local silk factory. Modotti’s father emigrated to San Francisco, sending for his family in 1913. Modotti was hired in the sewing room at the I. Magnin department store, but her great beauty attracted the attention of her superiors who then employed her to model the store’s fashions.
In 1915, Modotti attended San Francisco’s Pan-Pacific Exposition, where she got her first look at Modern art and photography. She also met her first husband at the Exposition, painter and poet Roubaix de l’Abrie Richey. At this time Modotti began acting in local Italian theatre and was discovered by a talent scout for the new silent film industry in Hollywood. She arrived in Los Angeles in 1918 and was cast in “The Tiger’s Coat” and “I Can Explain”. Through her Hollywood connections, Modotti met the married photographer Edward Weston, with whom she began an affair. Modotti was a favorite subject of Weston’s photographs, but moreover he taught her the art of photography. She actually ran Weston’s studio in exchange for photography lessons.
Due to the on-going affair between Modotti and Weston, Modotti’s husband moved to Mexico where he died of smallpox. This tragedy and the death of her father made Modotti dissatisfied with Hollywood. Modotti and Weston arrived in Mexico in 1923 at a time when the country was in the midst of a social, political and cultural revolution. She photographed the Mexican revolutionary culture and these are among her best known works. Modotti became friends with Diego Rivera and other artists, writers and radicals within his circle and was greatly influenced by their Communist ideologies. Rivera, Clemente Orozco and other muralists asked her to photograph their works. The photographs in this collection are from these series. Modotti’s fascination with Communism drove she and Weston apart and they separated in 1926.
In 1928 Modotti began living with a Cuban revolutionary in-exile, Julio Antonio Mella. Just a few months into their relationship, Modotti was at Mella’s side when he was gunned-down on a Mexico City street by his political opponents. The Mexican government tried to implicate Modotti in Mella’s death and although she was acquitted, her reputation was ruined. Mella’s death and the subsequent trial pushed Modotti further into a revolutionary Communist zeal. Modotti became preoccupied with producing revolutionary art and in 1929 opened her first solo show called the “First Revolutionary Photography Exhibit”. The secret police kept watch over her house and in 1930 she was arrested an deported to Europe. On the boat to Europe she became re-acquainted with a Soviet agent, Vittorio Vidali who wanted her to accompany him to Moscow. She instead decided to go to Berlin, but her six months in Berlin proved unhappy and she eventually joined Vidali in Moscow. Once in Moscow, she realized that her photography did not comply with Stalin’s concept of “revolutionary” art, so she gave up photography completely and devoted herself to combating fascism by working for International Red Aid. Modotti basically became a spy and entered fascist controlled countries undercover to assist families of political prisoners.
In 1940, she quietly retuned to Mexico and was living under the name Dr. Carmen Sanchez. By 1941, she began to contact some old friends such as Clemente Orozco and was attempting to purchase a camera to once again begin her photography. Unfortunately, her life ended as dramatically as it began On the way home from a dinner party on the night of January 6, 1942, 46 year old Modotti died of a heart attack in the back seat of a Mexico City taxicab. Though it has never been proven, it is said that due to her covert activities, she was poisoned by the Russians.
- Creator:Tina Modotti (1896-1942, Italian)
- Creation Year:1920s
- Dimensions:Height: 6.25 in (15.88 cm)Width: 9 in (22.86 cm)
- More Editions & Sizes:Archivally Matted to 16" x 20"Price: $2,500
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:See Photo.
- Gallery Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
Established in 2000
1stDibs seller since 2023
12 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Chicago, IL
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
More From This SellerView All
- 1920s Silver Gelatin Print by Tina Modotti of Diego Rivera FrescoBy Tina ModottiLocated in Chicago, ILAn original 1920s silver gelatin print by photographer Tina Modotti, showing a fresco by artist Diego Rivera. Photo is stamped “Photographs-Tina Modotti Mexico, D.F.” on reverse. A...Category
1920s Realist Black and White Photography
MaterialsSilver Gelatin
- 1920's Silver Gelatin Print by Tina Modotti of Diego Rivera FrescoBy Tina ModottiLocated in Chicago, ILAn original 1920s silver gelatin print by photographer Tina Modotti, that shows a fresco in the Secretariat of Education Buiilding, Mexico City that illustrates a popular ballad. Ph...Category
1920s Realist Black and White Photography
MaterialsSilver Gelatin
- 1920s Silver Gelatin Print by Tina Modotti, of Diego Rivera MuralBy Tina ModottiLocated in Chicago, ILAn original 1920s silver gelatin print by photographer Tina Modotti, showing a fresco, "The Spirit of Fire", in the Agricultural School-Chapingo, Mexico by artist Diego Rivera. Phot...Category
1920s Black and White Photography
MaterialsSilver Gelatin
- 1920's Silver Gelatin Print By Tina Modotti of Diego Rivera Fresco.By Tina ModottiLocated in Chicago, ILAn original 1920s silver gelatin print by photographer Tina Modotti of the Diego Rivera mural "Lightning Striking Down the Destructive forces in Society Mother Nature, Harmony Betwe...Category
1920s Realist Black and White Photography
MaterialsSilver Gelatin
- 1920s Silver Gelatin Print by Tina Modotti of a Drawing by Clemente OrozcoBy Tina ModottiLocated in Chicago, ILAn original 1920s silver gelatin print by photographer Tina Modotti, showing a drawing of soldiers and families by Clemente Orozco. Photo is stamped “Photographs-Tina Modotti Mexico...Category
1920s Realist Black and White Photography
MaterialsSilver Gelatin
- Tina Modotti Photograph of a Painting by Manuel Rodriguez LozanoBy Tina ModottiLocated in Chicago, ILA 1920s Tina Modotti photograph of a painting by Manuel Rodriguez Lozano. Archivally matted to 16" x 20". Tina Modotti was born in Udine, Italy in 1896 and by the age of 14 she wa...Category
1920s Black and White Photography
MaterialsSilver Gelatin
You May Also Like
- Man Ray, Juliet - 1932/1991, Silver Gelatin Print, Dada, Surrealist, Modern ArtBy Man RayLocated in Hamburg, DEMan Ray (1890-1976) Juliet, 1945/1991 Medium: Silver Gelatin Print (posthumous print) Dimensions: 30.5 x 24 cm Stamped: "Copie d'une épreuve originale - ADAGP Man Ray Trust" Conditio...Category
20th Century Modern Black and White Photography
MaterialsSilver Gelatin
- 'Jean Shrimpton In Evening Dress' Limited Edition silver gelatin V&A PortfolioBy John FrenchLocated in London, GB'Jean Shrimpton In Evening Dress' Limited Edition V&A Portfolio silver gelatin fibre print. Jean Shrimpton modelling a dress, John French (1907-66), England, 1961 © Victoria and Alb...Category
1960s Modern Figurative Photography
MaterialsSilver Gelatin
- 'Derby Spectator' Limited Edition Oversize Silver Gelatin PrintLocated in London, GBDerby Spectator A spectator looking through binoculars at the Derby horse races, Epsom, Surrey, June 1923. (Photo by Hulton / Getty Archive) Silver gelatin fibre print 20 x 24" p...Category
1920s Modern Figurative Photography
MaterialsSilver Gelatin
- Young Competitors (1925) - Silver Gelatin Fibre PrintLocated in London, GBYoung Competitors (1925) - Silver Gelatin Fibre Print (Photo by MacGregor/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images) 11th August 1925 Three young competitors arriving at the courts for th...Category
1920s Modern Figurative Photography
MaterialsBlack and White, Silver Gelatin
- ' The Wet Set ' Oversize Limited Edition - Victoria and Albert Museum LondonBy John FrenchLocated in London, GB' The Wet Set ' Oversize Limited Edition Print 1963 - Victoria and Albert Museum, London By John French The Wet Set, John French (1907-66), London, 1963 © Victoria and Albert Museu...Category
1960s Modern Figurative Photography
MaterialsBlack and White, Silver Gelatin
- 'Strapless Shrimp' V&A Portfolio Fashion Photography Limited Edition printBy John FrenchLocated in London, GB'Strapless Shrimp' V & A Portfolio Limited Edition print Jean Shrimpton modelling jewellery for ‘Voice & Vision’, John French (1907-66), London, 1963 © Victoria and Alber...Category
1960s Modern Figurative Photography
MaterialsSilver Gelatin
