Dear Diego crafts a poignant narrative from a chapter in Bertram Wolfe’s The Fabulous Life of Diego Rivera (1963), illustrating the heartache and evolution of Angelina Beloff, also known as Quiela. The novel takes readers on a journey through her emotional letters, penned to the renowned painter Diego Rivera, as she waits in vain for his summons from Mexico City. Through this narrative, we explore themes of love, identity, and artistic independence.

Structure of the Novel

Comprising twelve letters, Dear Diego spans from October 19, 1921, to July 22, 1922. These heartfelt missives, sent over the course of nine months, reveal Quiela’s yearning and despair as she grapples with Rivera's absence. Despite her emotional turmoil, Quiela finds solace and strength in her work as an illustrator for the Parisian magazine Floreal. Her steadfast devotion to her art is mirrored in the symbolic nine-month period, paralleling a gestation of her own creative identity, distinct from Rivera's influence. The letters culminate with a succinct narrative, wrapping up the story's emotional and thematic arcs.

Quiela's Journey

At the novel's inception, Quiela is enveloped in hope, eagerly anticipating Rivera’s call for her to join him. However, as the story progresses, she comes to a painful realization: Rivera has moved on without her. On the surface, the story portrays a woman deeply in love with a man who has let go of her. Simultaneously, it delves into Quiela's personal journey of artistic and emotional self-discovery. By the end of the novel, she emerges as a reinvented woman, having found her voice and identity independent of Rivera.

Plot Overview

The narrative traces the romance between Angelina Beloff, a Russian artist residing in Paris, and Diego Rivera, a Mexican painter. Their decade-long relationship is put to the test when Rivera returns to Mexico to engage in the cultural renaissance following the Mexican Revolution, leaving Quiela behind. Although Rivera sends her money occasionally, he remains unresponsive to her letters. In these missives, Quiela pours her heart out, expressing her deep love and acknowledging the profound impact Rivera’s artistic philosophy has had on her own work. In this way, Rivera acts as both a love interest and a mentor, threads that Quiela weaves into her letters.

Resolution and Reflection

The brief concluding narrative describes Quiela’s journey to Mexico in 1935, marking thirteen years since her last correspondence with Rivera. She does not seek him out during her stay, yet fate leads her to a chance encounter with him at a theater in Mexico City. In a poignant twist, Rivera fails to recognize her. This moment can be read as a symbol of two divergent paths: Rivera’s complete erasure of their past or a testament to Quiela’s metamorphosis into an independent artist. No longer defined by her love for Rivera, she stands as a formidable Angelina Beloff, fully realized both personally and artistically.