Portrait of Julien Levy

The 18 Most Famous Julien Levy Paintings, Each One of a Kind

Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 18 works by Julien Levy in our catalogue

In short

Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints) (1938) is the Julien Levy painting that draws the most eyes; the original belongs to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia. After it, the eye goes to Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints) (1938) and Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints) (1938). Among the 18 works of Julien Levy in our catalog, these 18 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.

1906 – 1981, New York City Surrealism Most works: Philadelphia Museum of Art

Top 10 paintings by Julien Levy, through the gallery's eye

1
Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints) (1938) by Julien Levy

Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints)

1938 · Gelatin Silver Print · Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia

The gaze of Frida Kahlo meets the viewer in Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints), a work captured by Julien Levy in 1938. This photographic study exists as a fragment of a larger moment, a piece of a series of images that Julien Levy gathered while the subject was gaining visibility within the United States. The presence of the woman in the frame feels immediate, as if the camera…

2
Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints) (1938) by Julien Levy

Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints)

1938 · Gelatin Silver Print · Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia

In this 1938 gelatin silver print, we encounter Frida Kahlo through a lens that feels both intimate and fractured. The work is composed of three separate sections, a strip of contact prints that offers a fragmented perspective of the subject. She sits in a chair, her long hair cascading down, wearing a necklace that catches the light. The composition is unusual; it does not present a single, unified moment, but…

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Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints) (1938) by Julien Levy

Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints)

1938 · Gelatin Silver Print · Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia

In this 1938 photographic study, titled Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints), we encounter the subject, Frida Kahlo, through the lens of Julien Levy. The work captures a specific, quiet moment in the artist's life, presented in a way that feels both immediate and fragmented. It is a piece that offers a glimpse into a private state of being, moving away from the formal portraiture often associated with the…

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Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints) (1938) by Julien Levy

Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints)

1938 · Gelatin Silver Print · Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia

In this 1938 gelatin silver print, the subject is presented through a fractured lens. The composition consists of a strip of two contact prints, offering a sequence of views rather than a single, unified moment. The woman sits in a chair, her posture captured in different states: one gaze directed downward, another turned upward. This technique moves beyond traditional portraiture, presenting the subject as a series of impressions held together…

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Frida Kahlo (1938) by Julien Levy

Frida Kahlo

1938 · Gelatin Silver Print · Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia

In this 1938 silver gelatin print, we encounter a portrait that feels less like a formal sitting and more like a shared, quiet moment. The subject, Frida Kahlo, is captured in a black and white composition that emphasizes the textures of her skin and the deliberate arrangement of her features. There is a certain tension in the way she holds herself, her hand resting near her face, creating a sense…

7
Frida Kahlo (1938) by Julien Levy

Frida Kahlo

1938 · Black and White Photography · Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia

This evocative black and white photograph, dating from 1938, presents an arresting portrait of the iconic Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo. More than a mere likeness, it is a captured moment brimming with untold stories and profound self-possession. The composition immediately draws the eye to Kahlo’s gaze; she looks directly out, engaging the viewer with an intensity that feels both vulnerable and utterly commanding. Her face, meticulously adorned with makeup, transforms…

8
Frida Kahlo (1938) by Julien Levy

Frida Kahlo

1938 · Black and White Photography · Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia

This portrait of Frida Kahlo, captured by the artist Julien Levy, emerged in 1938. It exists as a silver gelatin print, a monochrome window into a specific moment of the Surrealism movement. The image fixes the subject within a studio setting, a quiet space where light and shadow define the edges of her presence.

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Frida Kahlo (1938) by Julien Levy

Frida Kahlo

1938 · Black and White Photography · Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia

This portrait of Frida Kahlo, captured by the artist Julien Levy, offers a quiet glimpse into the presence of the Mexican painter. Created in 1938, the work emerged during a significant period when Levy was organizing Kahlo's first solo exhibition in America. It is a study of the artist herself, presented through the lens of a man who understood the shifting currents of the avant-garde during that era.

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Frida Kahlo (1938) by Julien Levy

Frida Kahlo

1938 · Black and White Photography · Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia

This 1938 portrait of Frida Kahlo was captured by Julien Levy. The work belongs to the Surrealism movement. It is a black and white photograph that documents the artist during a significant period of her career.

Julien Levy's famous paintings, numbers 11 to 18

The subjects that held Julien Levy's eye

The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.

The museums that keep Julien Levy's originals

The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Julien Levy Paintings from this list
Philadelphia Museum of Art, PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia 18 Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints), Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints), Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints)

Julien Levy across the years: the unique originals of each

All the dated Julien Levy originals shown here belong to a single year, 1938: they appear in order of fame.

Works per year

Pick a year to see its originals.

Julien Levy's paintings: questions for the gallery

What is the single most famous work of Julien Levy?Reveal the answer

Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints) (1938), Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia. Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints) (1938) and Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints) (1938) come next.

At what age did Julien Levy create Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints)?Reveal the answer

32 years old: Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints) dates from 1938, and Julien Levy was born in 1906.

Which ten paintings by Julien Levy are the most famous?Reveal the answer

Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints), Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints), Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints), Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints), Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints), Frida Kahlo, Frida Kahlo, Frida Kahlo, Frida Kahlo and Frida Kahlo. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.

How many works by Julien Levy are known?Reveal the answer

Our catalog holds 18 works by Julien Levy.

Where can the most famous Julien Levy originals be seen?Reveal the answer

Mostly in Philadelphia Museum of Art (Philadelphia). The museum table above lists them all.

During which period did Julien Levy create the best-known paintings?Reveal the answer

In 1938: 18 of the 18 works on this page were made then, Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints) among them.

What subjects did Julien Levy favour?Reveal the answer

Black and white (13), Woman (12) and Dress (6), across the 18 works on this page.

What materials did Julien Levy paint with most?Reveal the answer

Black and White Photography, for 9 of the 18 works on this page.

Which movement does the work of Julien Levy belong to?Reveal the answer

Surrealism, judging by the originals on this page.

What Julien Levy originals can I see at the Philadelphia Museum of Art?Reveal the answer

Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints), Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints) and Frida Kahlo (Strip of Two Contact Prints): the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia holds 18 of the works on this page.

Julien Levy: a portrait of the artist

early life and education

julien levy, a renowned art dealer and owner of julien levy gallery in new york city, was born on january 22, 1906. he studied museum administration at harvard under the guidance of paul j. sachs but dropped out shortly before graduating.

career highlights

levy's association with marcel duchamp led to his introduction to man ray and berenice abbott, resulting in his acquisition of a portion of eugène atget's personal archive. in 1927, he met artist and writer mina loy and married her daughter, joella haweis. after their divorce in 1942, levy married surrealist artist muriel streeter in 1944.

julien levy gallery: a hub for surrealists and avant-garde artists

levy's gallery, established in 1931 at 602 madison avenue, played a pivotal role in promoting european and american surrealist artists. notable exhibitions include:

legacy and later life

levy moved to connecticut in 1949, married jean farley mclaughlin in 1958, and taught at sarah lawrence college and state university of new york at purchase. he authored memoir of an art gallery and surrealism. levy passed away on february 10, 1981.

relevant links from OriginalUniqueArt

important museums and collections

discover more about julien levy's life and work on OriginalUniqueArt.