a little history about a revolutionary beauty

inspired by amy's list and her desire, previously unbeknownst to me, to make her own photographs, i wanted to let you all know what i've been obsessed with for the last couple weeks. tina modotti. i am currently reading the biography pictured above.

tina was an italian immigrant escaping fascist terrorism with her family in the early 1900s; they came to san francisco. she became an actress and model and starred in a hollywood silent film. she got married to this eccentric artist/poet named "robo." photographer edward weston was part of their crazy exciting group of artist friends, and they all dreamed of moving to mexico where an art revolution was happening with diego rivera at its center, championing the common man's connection to art.

robo was the first to move to mexico, but he died of some health problem like cholera. tina had just come to join him and was heartbroken over his death and mourned for quite a while alone in mexico city. later edward weston joined her and they became business partners, doing portraits, and also lovers. they lived together in the most beautiful colorful studios for a few years, taking side trips around to see rural areas and people of mexico. this is my favorite part of her life, during which she composes the most graceful and meaningful photographs. the book talks about how she develops them in a dark closet, the kind of camera she uses, the paper she prints on, and how she chooses and plans her shots. each one is a complete and pure act of creation to her. incidentally, she could never have children because of something wrong with her uterus, which also broke her heart. she loved children so much and later devoted herself to helping children internationally in her work with red aid.

on with the story: eventually tina became heavily involved in communism. edward left to go back to the comforts of his pampered california life, but tina stayed on and fell in love with julio antonio mella. he was a revolutionary exiled from cuba. even though their affair was her shortest, he was the love of her life. he was assasinated while walking arm in arm with tina down the street one night.

the mexican press was absurdly obsessed with tina and wanted to call the assasination a crime of passion and blame her. this tore her apart. they harrassed her for a couple years and followed her every move. meanwhile, because julio's last words were something about dying for the cause, she chose to pursue "the cause" as her way of life. although she was not mixed up in anything very dangerous, mostly journalism and helping poor people, she eventually got deported from mexico.

she had to hide out in berlin for awhile which was drab and depressing compared to the bright sunny landscapes of her beloved mexico. however she could not go back to italy or mussolini would have her killed. so she worked harder than ever for communism and eventually went to moscow with her new companion, stalinist henchman vittorio vidali.

she stayed with vidali the rest of her life. i am not going to write all the rest because it's getting kind of long, but she spends years in spain during their intense and brutal civil war, where she sees a whole lot of horrors. and she ends up dying at 45, still beautiful and vibrant, back in mexico. at least she got to spend the last two years of her life in the country that had become her home. she had mella's photograph in her pocket until the day she died.

it is a lot more complex than my brief history but i just wanted to share that with you all. i personally love the artsy side of her revolutionary struggle better than the communist side. but her ideals were inspired through communism because of its promise to help and support the working man. and, just like in cuba, there is some link between art and communism, in which the art and literacy of the proletariat becomes vital. however we all know that there is a lot wrong with this picture. but tina became so entwined that she couldn't see the forest for thee trees, i'm afraid. i am truly inspired by her passion, nurturing, loving attention to details, and selflessness.