Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was a Mexican artist who grew up during the
Mexican Revolution, a time of great social and economic change. There was a strong sense of nationalistic pride during this time, which is evident in her later works. During childhood, Kahlo had polio, this affexted her growth and development. Furthermore, she was involved in a bus accident later in her life, which damaged her spine and was extremely traumatic in her mental processes. Because of this, she had ongoing surgery throughout her life, and, was in constant pain. However, after this accident, she began painting to express herself. As a result of her accident, she suffered numerous miscarriages and was unable to have children – an issue she explores in her
1932 work ―Henry Ford Hospital‖. Kahlo was an active participant in the social and political landscape of Mexico, and used artworks to express her social and political views, as well as themes of her physical pain and contion, cultural background and mythology, and Mexican traditions through her dress, layout, and symbolism. Particularly evident in ―Las Dos Fridas‖, history and culture are shown to be an incredibly influential and important aspect of
Frida’s mindset and views on life and her own personal and cultural identity.
Las Dos Fridas is one of Kahlo’s largest works at approximately 68 x 68 inches in size.1 It is a departure from the retablo format she frequently used, reflecting Kahlo’s desire for her work to be noticed at the Surrealist exhibition for which it was intended.2 Two monumental, full length representations of the artist are seated side-by-side on a simple green bench, gently holding hands.
Behind them, dark, jagged clouds blanket the sky, eliminating any specific sense of place. The two figures are linked by a shared circulatory system which pumps blood between their exposed hearts. The figure on the left uses a clamp in an attempt to stanch the flow of blood falling on her stiff white
gown.3
Mexican Revolution, a time of great social and economic change. There was a strong sense of nationalistic pride during this time, which is evident in her later works. During childhood, Kahlo had polio, this affexted her growth and development. Furthermore, she was involved in a bus accident later in her life, which damaged her spine and was extremely traumatic in her mental processes. Because of this, she had ongoing surgery throughout her life, and, was in constant pain. However, after this accident, she began painting to express herself. As a result of her accident, she suffered numerous miscarriages and was unable to have children – an issue she explores in her
1932 work ―Henry Ford Hospital‖. Kahlo was an active participant in the social and political landscape of Mexico, and used artworks to express her social and political views, as well as themes of her physical pain and contion, cultural background and mythology, and Mexican traditions through her dress, layout, and symbolism. Particularly evident in ―Las Dos Fridas‖, history and culture are shown to be an incredibly influential and important aspect of
Frida’s mindset and views on life and her own personal and cultural identity.
Las Dos Fridas is one of Kahlo’s largest works at approximately 68 x 68 inches in size.1 It is a departure from the retablo format she frequently used, reflecting Kahlo’s desire for her work to be noticed at the Surrealist exhibition for which it was intended.2 Two monumental, full length representations of the artist are seated side-by-side on a simple green bench, gently holding hands.
Behind them, dark, jagged clouds blanket the sky, eliminating any specific sense of place. The two figures are linked by a shared circulatory system which pumps blood between their exposed hearts. The figure on the left uses a clamp in an attempt to stanch the flow of blood falling on her stiff white
gown.3