3 Review(s)

A charismatic stage and screen actress; a model whose beauty inspired some of the most arresting images of the 20th century; a visionary photographer; a revolutionary with deep commitments to communism; a woman whose life, loves and death were controversial; Tina Modotti (1896-1942) was all of these. Her life was one of almost unimaginable glamour, scandal and turmoil. This biography aims to portray Modotti accurately and fairly, cutting through the distortions of myth and rumour that surround her. Perhaps best known as the lover, model and apprentice of American photographer Edward Weston, Modotti emerges in these pages as a complex woman, deeply passionate in her relationships as well as her art and politics. Historian Letizia Argenteri examines an array of international historical documents and letters as she traces the path of Modotti's life and career through Italy, California, Mexico, Germany, Moscow and Spain. Argenteri tells the story in detail, casting light on the mysteries of Modotti's life and placing her in the political and social milieu of her time.