Eero Saarinen's love letters and one by Frida Kahlo

Before people were dropping GIFs into e-mail, letter writers were adding illustrations to increase the emotional or contextual punch. These letters were written to Aline Bernstein Louchheim, who became Saarinen's second wife in 1954.

Letter from Eero Saarinen to his second wife Aline Bernstein in 1953, illustrating his plan for the Michigan Music School that would be finished in 1964

And below, a pasional letter from Frida Kahlo to Emmy Lou Packard on October 24, 1940, thanking her for taking care of her former husband Diego Rivera who had suffered an eye ailment. She includes three lipstick marks for Emmy Lou, her son Donald, and Rivera, writing “Kiss Diego for me and tell him I love him more than my own life.” They got remarried later that year.

The Archives of Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art have an impressive collection of photos and letters from Eero and Aline, which you can view here.

"The more one digs, the more one finds the solidest [foundation] for you and I to build a life together.”

—Eero Saarinen

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In relationship of Valentine’s Day, we decided to revisit the love letters between Eero Saarinen and his wife, Aline Saarinen. Made available to the public through the Archives of American Art, the letters, dated from 1953 to 1958, represent a sampling of their overtly affectionate correspondence. In the words of the architectural critic, Alexandra Lange, "Their letters provide a sometimes shockingly intimate look at an apparent coup de foudre of two equals, both stars in their respective works"

"The Case History of a Romance," a Valentine's day card written by Aline Saarinen. Images courtesy of the Archives of American Art.

"Aline, I Love You" by Eero Saarinen. Image courtesy of the Archives of American Art.

Handwritten card from Eero Saarinen to Aline Saarinen, between 1953 and 1961

Eero Saarinen and his wife Aline, a former art critic, work on a project.

The Gateway Geyser, located on the riverfront of the Mississippi River, sprays water with the Arch in the background.

A telephoto lens shows over time on the Arch. Author Jim Merkel.

A letter from Frida Kahlo to Emmy Lou Packard on October 24, 1940.

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More information

Eero SAARINEN

Eero Saarinen (Rantasalmi, Finland, 1910 - Bloomfield Hills, United States of America, 1961), is an architect of Finnish origin that develops all his professional activity in the United States, country he moved to in 1923, when he was thirteen years old. He studies sculpture at the Academy of the Grand Chaumiére of Paris in 1929 and architecture at Yale University between 1930 and 1934.

In his first years of professional activity, Eero Saarinen works in the practice of his father, the also well-known architect Eliel Saarinen, of which he becomes partner in 1941 along with J. Robert Swanson. At this time he was also professor of architecture at the Cranbrook Art Academy.

After the death of his father in 1950, Saarinen opens his own practice in Birmingham (Alabama) under the name of Eero Saarinen & Associates. Some of his best known works are the General Motors Technical Center in Michigan; The Gateway Arch, in St. Louis; The TWA at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and the hockey pavilion at Yale University.

The professional career of Eero Saarinen also included his activity as furniture designer, creating well-known pieces.

Published on: February 13, 2016

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