Frida Kahlo

Happy Birthday Frida Kahlo!! Born today in Coyoacan, Mexico in 1907, Frida Kahlo was one of the greatest influential Mexican painters. She blended Symbolism and Surrealism in her own style of Folk Art to paint pain and suffering as it related to her world, both personally and politically. Suffering from a lame leg, due to polio as well as lifelong injuries from a horrific bus crash when she was just a teen, Frida lived the majority of her life in great pain. Her art stemmed from the countless hours lying in bed healing and reflecting on life. She painted herself as well as the fruit, monkeys and birds she loved. An incredible beauty, described as an Aztec Queen, Frida commanded attention wherever she went. She wore the flowing skirts, shawls and wraps of a Mexican peasant with rings on every finger, great medallions and her hair swept up with magnificent flowers and fruit. She was married to Diego Rivera, Mexican muralist, also deeply involved in the politics of Mexico. The painting I have chosen to include here is actually a photograph of Kahlo as she works on a large self portrait titled The Two Frida's, 1939. I regret that I cannot include a color photo, but I thought it important for the reader to see a photographic image of her as well as the painted images.