"Self Portrait" 1940
So often, true talent is found at the hands of the disturbed soul. Perhaps it is this inner turmoil that allows harmony to flow to the canvas or notebook. Frida Kahlo, recognized as the finest female Mexican painter, is no exception. Kahlo, a beautiful, intelligent artist of the twentieth century, was also very troubled, both physically and emotionally. It was this chaos that produced her best works.
Born in 1907, Kahlo originally had no intentions to be an artist (www.fridakahlo.com). A terrible streetcar accident when she was eighteen brought painting into her life. Confined to her bed for many months, painting was her only outlet at the time. Kahlo suffered throughout her whole life from injuries sustained in this accident, including the inability to carry a child to full term. A lifetime of surgeries and miscarriages are displayed in Kahlo’s works, such as in Henry Ford Hospital (1932). Kahlo suffered a miscarriage while in Detroit and painted this disturbing image to deal with her pain.
"Henry Ford Hospital" 1932
Another theme of Kahlo’s work is her tumultuous relationship with muralist Diego Rivera. Married and divorced twice, Rivera and Kahlo each had several affairs and their relationship was never on solid ground. In The Two Fridas (1939), Kahlo depicts herself twice: The Frida that Diego loves and the one he does not. This was painted after their first divorce and seems to say that all Kahlo has is herself.
"The Two Fridas" 1939
Many have labeled Kahlo’s paintings as Surrealist, but, in Kahlo’s own words, “I’ve never painted dreams…I painted my own reality (www.fridakahlofans.com).” Surrealism deals directly with the world of dreams and Kahlo’s paintings are meant to portray her tortured, living experiences.
I love the work of Frida Kahlo because of its frankness, by her own choice. This troubled, broken woman has laid bare her soul for all to see. She could not be more deliberate in meaning; the viewer can see her pain in her work. She produced fifty-five self-portraits over the course of her life, unafraid to face and share her pain. Some of her works are not beautiful to look at, in fact, some of them are very disturbing, but Kahlo’s attractiveness is found in her meaning and her nerve. I am very impressed with the work of Frida Kahlo. After learning of the events of her life, I see her paintings as the pages of her story.
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I really enjoyed this artist as well but I think her paintings were slightly graphic. I liked how you described each painting as well as gave background on the artist. Although I do think that she definitely has a gift for drawing herself as representation in her paintings.
I enjoy Frieda Kahlo as an artist. I think her works are very beautiful. Her subject matter is always a bit odd and has strange things mixed together than have deeper meaning. I feel saddened when looking at her works about knowing what they mean to her and how much pain that she must have gone through. You wrote this post very well and made it interesting.
Your selection is wonderful. you did a great job in exlpaining her work and how you viewed and felt about it at the same time. You have the dates as well good jog as well as the cites. Your biography helped one grasp enough to really learn something new.