ANGELINA BELOFF (Diego Rivera 1er femme) oeuvre dart soldes P/T LTD 3/10

Angelina Beloff(1879 –1969) Russian-born artist who did most of her workin Mexico. She is better known asDiego Rivera's first wife. Her work hasbeen overshadowed by him and that of his later wives. She studied art in SaintPetersburg, begin her art career in Paris in 1909 Paris attracted artists fromvarious countriesin a vanguard of new painting expression. AngelinaBeloff worked in the studio ofHenri Matisseand later with SpanishpainterHermenegildo Anglada Camarasa.During this time, her skillsdeveloped and earned recognition for her painting and drawing.She met anumber of Mexican artists in France andBelgium, meeting Diego Riveraduring a trip with artistMaría BlanchardtoBrussels. At thetimeDiego Rivera was a poor 23-year-oldstudent. Rivera pursued her romantically and married in Paris by the endof the same year she arrived. They had one child named Miguel Ángel, who diedof lung complications when he was only fourteen months old. The couple's lifein Paris was not easy, economically, especially during the First World Warwhich produced shortages of basic necessities as well as artistic supplies. Sheworked jobs, sacrificing her own creative development so that Rivera couldpaint. She left a diary which describes their private life withRivera,who was unfaithful to her, tell about their exchanges of ideas aspainters and collaborative projects, as well as interaction with other paintersof their time. AsPicasso who visitthem at their apartment.Made friends withDavid Alfaro Siqueiros,ÁngelZárraga,Adolfo Best Maugard, Roberto Montenegroand other Mexicans.In the winter of 1917, Diego and Angelina's baby, Miguel Angel, died ofbronchopneumonia. This tragedyforever changed their relationship andartistic creations. Diego distance himself from his wife. In 1921, Diego Riverawas called to Mexico byJosé Vasconcelosto paint aftertheMexican Revolution. There was not enough money for both to travel soBeloff did not accompany him. Rivera never returned to Europe. He divorced Beloffbut kept sending money for her support. After RiveramarriedGuadalupe Marín Beloff became reclusive. She never remarried.Beloff was a master at drawing and created new techniques in etching her workwas mostly for the illustration of books in Europe.Until 1932, sheregularly exhibited at the Tullerías, and other galleries. In Paris she paintedportraits of various famous Mexicans living there. In 1932 when she was 53, herfriends Alfonso ReyesandGermán Cueto invited her to work in Mexico.With other foreign artists to help shape the country's cultural scene aftertheMexican Revolution.She started working as a drawing andengraving teacher for schools and workshops for the Secretaría de EducaciónPública in 1932 and later with theInstituto Nacional de BellasArtes.Most of her work was done in that time, using the local imagery,avoided Mexican national symbols in her work, preferring to recreate the mundanewith focus on details. Her artistic style remained European. In 1978,writerElena Poniatowskawrote a novel based on Beloff'scalledQuerido Diego, te abraza, Quiela, which was adapted for radio, thentranslated into English. While not again part of Rivera's sphere. Thatmarginalized her. She ran into him she never reproached him.She livedthirty seven years in Mexico, pursuing her art career founding some publicinstitutions devoted to the arts. In Mexico, she exhibited at the Sala de Arteof theSecretaría de Educación Pública, the Galería de Arte Mexicano andtheSalón de la Plástica Mexicanain the 1950s. Her artwork was afusion of European styles with Mexican imagery and colors, with her mainartistic influences beingMatisse,Cézanne andPicasso.Herpainting shows the most influence from Cézanne, whose work she was introducedto by Rivera.This influence is most seen instill lifes, portraitsand a number of landscapes. She created notable marionettes including one called“Pastillita.She also published Muñecos animados, historia, técnica yfunción educativa del teatro de muñecos en México y en el mundo in 1945. Shewas a member of theLiga de Escritores y ArtistasRevolucionariosstarting in 1934, theSociedad Mexicana de Grabadoresin1947, the Galería Espira in the 1930s, theSociedad para el Impulso de lasArts Plásticasin 1948 and the Salón de las Plástica Mexicana in 1949. Most of her workshave gone into public and private collections, theMuseo de Arte Moderno,theMuseo Nacional de Arteand the Blaisten Collection.However,a large number are part of the collection of theMuseo DoloresOlmedo.The collection was acquired by the museum in 1994, and with theexception of the oil calledTepoztlan, all are from her early career,created in France in the 1910s and 1920s. During her life, her work waseclipsed by her relationship with Rivera, along with his other wives, GuadalupeMarín andFrida Kahlo. Although her talent was highly recognized by anumber of academics. She died in 1969 at the age of 90