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Me and My Parrots (1941)
by Frida Kahlo
“Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light. Tragedy is the most ridiculous thing.” ― Frida Kahlo
Many of the most-discussed artists share similar characteristics: 1) they are from hundreds of years ago, and 2) they are often old white men. Now, there are thousands of talented artists who are not only old, white men. One of them would be the legendary Latina painter: Frida Kahlo. Firstborn and named Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón on July 6, 1907, in Coyoacán, Mexico City, to a German father and mixed mother, Kahlo was considered one of Mexico's most revolutionary artists not because of her gender or race but for her passionate work, boundless creativity, and strong beliefs.
Frida Kahlo
When Kahlo was eighteen, she became hospitalized in 1925 after suffering severe injuries in a bus-trolley collision. Despite her injuries, she continued her artistic journey with the help of a mirror and easel. Her first of many portraits, Self-Portrait in a Velvet Dress, was completed in 1926. Kahlo's most well-known works are her surrealist self-portraits, such as Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, The Two Fridas, and Self Portrait with Cropped Hair. The work displayed her seemingly innate, untrained talent as she studied to pursue a medical career before the accident.
The Two Fridas (1939)
As noted by Frida Kahlo, "There have been two great accidents in my life," the car crash that rendered her disabled, and meeting the famous artist Diego Rivera. The two married when Rivera was 42 and Kahlo was 22. As expected, the marriage of the two renowned creatives was nothing short of volatile due to their headstrong personalities, intense lust, and a variety of other reasons. As avid romantics (of other men and women, that is), the two shared an open relationship permitting affairs. However, the relationship went downhill after Frida discovered Diego's romance with her sister Cristina. The two married in 1929 and divorced in 1940 after the incident, yet their passion for each other remained strong as they remarried the following year.
Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera
Unfortunately, Kahlo’s poor health continued to plague her. In 1930, she lost her baby in a miscarriage -- it would be the first of three times. In her piece titled, Henry Ford Hospital, painted after her second miscarriage two years later, Kahlo’s despair surrounding her fertility problems is clearly seen. I chose not to add the painting to the article as it depicts the uncomfortable, highly intimate scene of how Kahlo felt undergoing her miscarriage. I encourage you to search it up if you are curious, though.
Nonetheless, Kahlo was an ardent advocate of Mexico's working and middle class, and she dabbled with political ideologies spanning from Trotskyism to Marxism to Stalinism. Through her works, she criticized authoritarian powers, highlighted Latino popular culture, and championed female rights, thereby incorporating women into the male-dominated art industry. Fifty-five of her 143 paintings are self-portraits reflecting her liveliness and hardships. Her elaborate artworks are worth considering not only for their quality but also for their bold messages.
Collage of Kahlo’s most famous pieces
Without a doubt, Kahlo is an inspirational icon who symbolizes hope and empowerment to several generations of artists, particularly women and individuals with disabilities. In spite of her physical suffering, the painter used her artistic talent to express herself and her social and political views. Many of her creations possess a broad spectrum of symbolic themes related to identity, Mexican culture, or Kahlo's physical and psychological struggles. Her works are celebrated in Mexico for their representation of Mexican and indigenous traditions.
Mexican flag
Being a successful Latina painter, Kahlo is a fascinating figure to study because she paved the way for future female artists to succeed in the field. If her life inspired you, I guarantee you will not be disappointed if you explore even deeper into her profoundly intricate life. To include all the details in this article would mean at least a few thousand words. Her wit and meaningful art are matched by none.
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Article by Tiffani Pe
Cover page by Khushi Kolte
Edited by Keisha de Castro
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