Frida Kahlo in an artist portrait: Art as a mirror of life

Frida Kahlo , born on July 6, 1907 in Coyoacán, Mexico and died on July 13, 1954 also in Coyoacán, is undoubtedly considered the most famous artist of Latin America and is closely associated with Mexican culture.

Her artworks are characterized by uncompromising honesty and vibrant colors; her self-portraits, , have made her world-famous. In these portraits, Frida Kahlo grappled intensely with themes such as identity, the human body, and death.

What makes Frida Kahlo so special? What is it about her that is so interesting?

People often call Frida Kahlo a surrealist painter , although she herself said that her art had nothing to do with surrealism. She developed a unique style by combining reality and symbolism in her paintings.

Frida Kahlo was known both for her art and for her tumultuous relationship with the famous Mexican muralist Diego Rivera . They first married in 1929, but separated ten years later. Unable to stay apart forever, however, they reunited in 1940 and vowed to love each other again.

Frida Kahlo, with her extraordinary personality and raw artistic talent, left a lasting impression on people. Millions still respect and study her work today. It has become an integral part of Latin American art history, and Frida a symbol of female strength and resilience around the globe.

Frida Kahlo used her art to cope with the pain and physical limitations that constantly accompanied her. Her self-portraits have long since entered modern pop culture. People see the painter as a symbol of freedom. Frida Kahlo was interested in indigenous peoples, pre-Columbian culture, nature, and Mexican folk art.

One of Frida Kahlo's most important contributions to modern art is how she blurred the boundaries between art and life in a way no other artist could. She used her own experiences, dreams, and feelings with burning passion in her art, creating a deeply personal and authentic narrative style .

Many modern artists have been inspired by this new way of thinking to explore their own narrative dimensions and incorporate raw, unfiltered emotions into their work. This allows them to blur the lines between what is real and what is imagined.

Kahlo's legacy is a powerful reminder for artists that their work can be a potent reflection of their own lives—a bridge that speaks to and touches the viewer on a deeply personal level. It challenges all creative individuals to infuse their work with the true power of their own life stories so they can engage in an intimate and meaningful conversation with their audience.

Frida Kahlo's art in 8 minutes – an immersive look into the life of the iconic Mexican artist

Frida Kahlo's unwavering celebration of her femininity and her profound exploration of the female experience have given strength and inspiration to countless female artists. She challenged conventional notions about the representation of women in art by not only embracing her physical imperfections but also powerfully expressing her pain, longings, and dreams in her works.

Kahlo's fearlessness in addressing issues such as motherhood, sexuality, and reproductive rights continues to serve as a beacon for modern female artists who unwaveringly demand their place in the art world. Her legacy is a powerful reminder that women's voices and perspectives are indispensable to the cultural narrative and deserve unconditional appreciation.

Frida Kahlo's works were closely linked to her political and social convictions . She used her art as a means of activism, advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples, gender equality, and social justice. Kahlo's endeavor art as a catalyst for change has inspired modern artists who use its platforms to address pressing issues and stimulate important discussions.

Whether it concerns environmental issues or human rights, artists today are inspired by Kahlo's fearless commitment to highlighting the pressing challenges of our time.

A lifetime in the “Blue House”

She spent almost her entire life in the "Blue House" in Mexico City. The "Casa Azul" in southern Mexico City was a significant place in Frida Kahlo's life. Kahlo 's home was converted into a museum in 1958, four years after her death. This was done at her own request and at the request of her husband, Diego Rivera, to bequeath her artistic legacy to the Mexican state.

The building at number 247 Calle Londres, located in southern Mexico City, is rich in exhibits from the artist's oeuvre. The Frida Kahlo Museum displays a wide variety of her works, including Long Live Life (1954), Frida and the Caesarean Section (1931), and Portrait of My Father (1952).

Profile – Key Facts

The most important facts about the artist who is celebrated worldwide today:

Biography and important milestones in the life of Frida Kahlo

Born in Mexico City in 1907

Frida Kahlo, who rose to become an icon of the art world during the 20th century, was born relatively inconspicuously in 1907 in Coyoacán , a district of Mexico City. Her mother was the talented painter Mathilde Calderón de Kahlo and her father the photographer Carl Wilhelm Kahlo, who came from Germany.

Her full name was Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo Calderón . Her first name was not chosen at random – it was adopted from her paternal grandfather and was intended to emphasize her German heritage.

The family was right in the middle of a truly turbulent time: When Frida was born, the Mexican Revolution out, a massive political upheaval that transformed the entire country. This historical backdrop shaped Frida's life and her art forever.

At some point, the artist decided that 1910 (the beginning of the Mexican Revolution) should be her birth year.

Close relationship with her father

I've always had a very special relationship with my father. We've shared so many wonderful moments together, and he's always been there for me when I needed him. It's simply indescribable how much he means to me and how much

Frida Kahlo grew up with three sisters: Matilde, Adriana, and Cristina. She also had two half-sisters from her father's previous marriage, Maria Luisa and Margarita. Her younger brother, Guillermo, sadly died just a few days after her birth. Frida Kahlo was especially close to her younger sister, Cristina.

Frida Kahlo was significantly influenced by her father, who was himself a talented photographer and artist. Through him, she acquired the ability to observe her surroundings and nature with precision. Her father, originally named Wilhelm Kahlo, became a naturalized Mexican citizen after four years and changed his name to Guillermo Kahlo.

Frida showed an exceptional talent for art from an early age. However, at six years old, fate dealt her a harsh blow: she contracted polio . This disease severely impaired her physical health and often confined her to bed or a wheelchair.

Despite these severe limitations, Frida developed an unwavering will to overcome her disabilities.

Medical studies and artistic engagement

From 1922, Frida Kahlo attended the renowned Escuela Nacional Preparatoria in Mexico City to prepare for medical studies. At that time, emancipated women were striving to enter professions that had previously been male domains.

Frida Kahlo was among the first young women admitted to this course of study. During this first wave of emancipation, strong women became role models for the younger generation. At the university, Frida Kahlo met Diego Rivera (1886-1957) in 1922, who created the mural "Creation" for the main hall.

At college, she joined the group “Los Cachuchas” and began a relationship with Alejandro Gómez Arias, the group's leader. In 1923, Frida Kahlo met and befriended the photographer and actress Tina Modotti (1896–1942). Two years later, she began an apprenticeship with the graphic artist Fernando Fernández, who worked with her father. In 1928, the artist immortalized Alejandro Gómez Arias in a portrait.

Tragic bus accident

In September 1925, a terrible event claimed Frida Kahlo's life. She and a friend were on a bus that was involved in a very serious accident. Afterwards, she frequently had to go to the hospital, undergo operations, and endure much suffering.

But she was able to learn to walk again. However, she could no longer study medicine. Therefore, she gave up her dream of becoming a doctor and devoted all her time to painting. She recovered after the accident at her "Casa Azul" in Mexico City.

Self-portraits were her medium

In September 1926, Frida Kahlo drew her first self-portrait, "Self-Portrait with Velvet Dress ." By 1954, she had created a total of 54 self-portraits, exploring her emotional state through these works.

She discovered self-portraiture as a suitable medium for finding her own identity and describing social conditions. From then on, she expressed her personality through her clothing. She wore the Tehuana costume, which can be seen in many of her works.

“I paint myself because I spend a lot of time alone and because I am the subject I know best.”,

The artist described her motivation.

Wedding with Diego Rivera

In 1929, Frida Kahlo married Diego Rivera, whom she had known for seven years. But the marriage was not without its crises. Her husband had an affair with her sister. In 1939, the artist divorced Diego Rivera.

Like other famous painters, Frida Kahlo discovered that making a living from art is not easy. Her former lover, the photographer Nickolas Muray, bought one of her self-portraits to support her financially.

The University of Texas at Austin acquired the painting in 1966. Since then, the portrait has traveled the globe, appearing in more than 30 exhibitions on every continent. In it, the artist gazes confidently into the viewer's eyes. Her hair is tied in braids, adorned with two silver butterflies symbolizing resurrection and regeneration. The painter had suffered several miscarriages and often incorporated symbols of rebirth into her work.

The artistic network extended as far as Europe

Frida Kahlo formed an artistic network that stretched from Mexico through the United States to Spain, France, Germany, and England. When André Breton and Jacqueline Lambas traveled to Mexico in 1938, a close friendship developed between the artists Kahlo and Lamba.

A year later, the Mexican painter was able to present her paintings in Paris for the first time. There she met the writer Alice Rahon and the Spanish painter Remedios Varo . Both artists moved to Mexico after the outbreak of World War II.

Remarriage and death of her father

In 1940, Frida Kahlo remarried Diego Rivera in San Francisco. When her father died in 1941, her physical and mental health deteriorated. During the 1940s, the artist's work gained recognition and acclaim among international collectors.

Her work was exhibited in the USA. She received a teaching position at an art school in Mexico City. Her 1945 “Moses” “The Two Fridas” .

deterioration of health

In 1950, Frida's health deteriorated. That year, doctors discovered she had gangrene in her right foot, a type of tissue death caused by insufficient blood supply. She had to undergo several operations and was bedridden for nine months.

Nevertheless, Frida Kahlo de Rivera worked hard and continued to paint. She even had a solo exhibition in Mexico in 1953

She attended the exhibition's opening ceremony, even though she was unable to move much at the time. An ambulance brought her to the event, where she greeted everyone and celebrated the ceremony in a bed that had been set up for her in the gallery.

Several months later, she had to undergo another operation to stop the necrosis. During this operation, part of her right leg was amputated. Frida was also very depressed and even considered taking her own life because she was feeling so unwell.

But despite her illness, she remained politically active . On July 2, she participated in a protest against the US-backed overthrow of Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz. This was the last time she was seen in public.

Her last self-portrait and the death of the artist

In 1951, Frida Kahlo de Rivera described in her diary the aftermath of seven spinal surgeries. At that time, she had been very ill for a year. But she retained her zest for life. She dedicated her next self-portrait to Dr. Farill, whom she considered her savior.

This painting turned out to be the Mexican painter's last self-portrait. Kahlo died in 1954, likely from a pulmonary embolism, in Coyoacán, a week after her 47th birthday. After her death, she became a global celebrity. The painter's house now serves as a museum, keeping her life's work alive.

Icon of emancipation

Many famous female painters have grappled intensely with and reflected upon their era. Frida Kahlo is no exception. She was an artist who was particularly concerned with the role of women and determined to advance their emancipation .

She drew inspiration from strong women and became a role model for numerous famous female painters and talented young female artists.

Frida Kahlo encouraged women to openly express their pain, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the female gender. Her artwork was characterized by personal experience, passion, and a profound exploration of themes such as identity , physicality , and societal norms .

Her works are known for their powerful symbolism and their honest portrayal of pain, grief, but also strength and resilience. Frida Kahlo's works convey a sense of empathy and openness towards human suffering – especially the suffering of women in an often patriarchal world.

The significance of this message was not only recognized within the art world: prominent figures like Madonna publicly expressed their admiration for the Mexican artist. As an emancipated woman herself, Madonna could certainly see many parallels between her own commitment to equality and Frida Kahlo's mission.

Surrealism and Realism

Frida Kahlo is usually associated with Surrealism . However, she herself did not consider herself part of this movement. She interpreted her works as results of her life, not as expressions of her dreams. The artist forged her own style by combining elements of nature with her own life experiences and the Mexican mentality . In this sense, she blended realism with surrealism.

Her paintings became a living diary. Through her artwork, she told stories about her relationships, her family, her formative experiences, her illnesses, and society. With her art, she shaped the way the world viewed Mexico.

The famous painter was also pop culture . But she was not prepared to accept all the conventions of her time.

Oeuvre and posthumous recognition

The artist has received immense attention, primarily in written form. Her works have been extensively discussed in biographies, introductions, and commentaries on numerous art books and exhibition catalogs. This widespread reception testifies to the significance of her art for literary and art criticism.

In most cases, the artist's life is presented as closely intertwined with her artistic work. The connection between her personal background, experiences, and emotions, and her art, is thoroughly analyzed and interpreted.

This allows readers to gain a deeper insight into their motivation, inspiration, and creative processes.

Particularly interesting is the fact that her life has been successfully adapted into films. This not only underscores the extraordinary fascination of her life story but also her strong presence in the public consciousness. Through these cinematic adaptations, her work gains a further dimension of accessibility – both for a broad audience and for art lovers worldwide.

Frida Kahlo, however, had to fight for recognition for a long time. Although she achieved some success, her work only received true appreciation long after her death

During her lifetime, Frida Kahlo was primarily the exotic flower in the buttonhole of the great master Diego Rivera. After her death in 1954, she faded into obscurity for a long time, and it wasn't until the early 1970s, in the wake of the women's movement, that she was rediscovered. Since then, there have been numerous exhibitions of her works and diverse tributes to Frida Kahlo the woman and the artist, and her popularity has steadily increased. In terms of influence, she has long since surpassed Diego Rivera

– Karen Genschow: Frida Kahlo. 2007, p. 120.

In 2001-2002, her works were presented in a large traveling exhibition alongside those of Georgia O'Keeffe and the Canadian artist Emily Carr .

Earlier this year, several of her paintings were featured in a groundbreaking Surrealism exhibition in London and New York. Currently, works by Kahlo and Rivera can be viewed at the Seattle Art Museum .

Janet Landay, exhibition curator at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and one of the organizers of an exhibition of Kahlo's works in 1993, emphasized, according to Smithsonian Magazine :

Kahlo transforms women's personal experiences into art in a profound way, but her paintings transcend gender boundaries due to their intense emotional content. Her works are both intimate and powerful, inviting both men and women to be moved by them

Kahlo created only about 200 paintings , mainly still lifes and portraits of herself, her family, and her friends. She also kept an illustrated diary and produced numerous drawings.

Using techniques she had learned from both her husband and her father – her father was a professional architectural photographer – Kahlo created haunting, sensual and absolutely original paintings.

They fused elements of Surrealism, fantasy, and folklore into impressive narratives. In contrast to the prevailing trend of abstract art in the 20th century, their work remained uncompromisingly figurative.

Although Kahlo occasionally accepted commissions for portraits, she sold relatively few paintings during her lifetime.

Today, her works fetch astronomical prices at auctions ; for example, in 2000 a self-portrait from 1929 was sold for more than 5 million US dollars.

In 2021, the most recent record at art auction followed: Frida Kahlo de Rivera's self-portrait “Diego y yo” Sotheby’s for $34.9 million ( Spiegel Online reported ) .

The painting was created five years before Kahlo's death and shows her with a portrait of her partner Diego Rivera on her forehead.

It was previously auctioned in 1990 for $1.4 million. The buyer of the painting is from the Eduardo F. Constantini Collection, named after the Argentinian businessman who founded the Museum of Latin American Arts in Buenos Aires (Malba).

With this sale price, “Diego y yo” (the work can be viewed at fridakahlo.org ) is now the most expensive Latin American artwork ever sold at auction Diego Rivera 's painting “Los Rivales ,” which sold for $9.76 million in 2018. The previous record for a Frida Kahlo painting was $8 million in 2016.

Frida Kahlo Museum – The Blue House in Coyoacán

Blue House , also known as La Casa Azul , was inaugurated as an exhibition space in 1958. The venerable property in Mexico City was Frida's birthplace and later her home with her husband, Diego Rivera.

Frida Kahlo's art experienced a revival in the 1970s as the women's movement gained momentum globally. As a symbol of women's creative power and influence, she became a legend of that era. Women worldwide viewed her art as a reflection of themselves.

A milestone in the collective understanding of Frida Kahlo occurred in 1983 when Hayden Herrera her book “Frida Kahlo: A Life Story .” Thanks to this work, the artist received a wealth of admiration and praise for her unparalleled individuality and her outstanding artistic influence on the history of Mexican art.

In 2002, an impressive film titled "Frida" , focusing on the life and work of the famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. The main roles were played by Salma Hayek and Alfred Molina .

The film tells the moving story of Frida's life, from her childhood to her success as a painter. It also explores her turbulent relationship with Diego Rivera. Thanks to the outstanding performances of Hayek and Molina, the audience is powerfully drawn into this emotional rollercoaster ride.

“Frida” was remarkable not only for its captivating plot but also for its technical brilliance. The film received a total of six Oscar nominations and won two of these coveted awards: one for Best Makeup and another for Best Original Score.

The team of artists did a remarkable job transforming Salma Hayek into a strikingly authentic incarnation of Frida Kahlo. Through their meticulous dedication, they managed to recreate her face, including the legendary artist's distinctive eyebrows and lips. The likeness wasn't just physical; the true essence of Frida Kahlo was also captured.

Equally remarkable is the soundtrack to the film “Frida.” The evocative music by Elliot Goldenthal and Linda Ronstadt perfectly complements the film's atmosphere. From melancholic tones to fiery melodies, the score creates a powerful emotional connection with the viewer and heightens the drama of the scenes.

Important works of art by Frida Kahlo

Frida and Diego Rivera, 1931

this double portrait to commemorate her marriage to Diego Rivera. With this painting, the Mexican artist depicted and challenged the role of women in society. While her husband holds a palette and a brush in the portrait, Kahlo seems content with her role as a traditional wife.

She presents herself entirely without artistic media. Furthermore, she is traditionally dressed, wearing a gown with a red scarf. She holds her husband's hand, thus assuming a passive role.

In fact, during her time she was largely perceived only in relation to Diego Rivera. It was only later in her life, and especially after her death, that she achieved worldwide fame.

The Two Fridas, 1939

One of Frida Kahlo's most famous self-portraits is undoubtedly "The Two Fridas ." This painting powerfully illustrates the emotional pain the artist experienced during her divorce from Diego Rivera.

The viewer can practically feel the depth of her pain and sadness. In the picture, Frida wears the suit from her previous marriage to Diego Rivera. It symbolizes her connection to him, even though that love ultimately failed. Even though she has separated from her husband, he remains a significant part of her life, represented by a locket around her neck.

The locket displays a picture of Diego Rivera – a reminder of times past and a constant presence in her life. It almost seems as if she cannot let him go and always carries his image with her.

The central focus of the painting, however, is on the artist's bleeding heart. It symbolizes the deep emotional pain she experienced through her separation. The heart appears broken and wounded, as if it had just been freshly broken.

This depiction unmistakably illustrates the immense suffering and emotional anguish Frida Kahlo endured at that time. In the background of the painting, we see a cloudy sky – dark gray, covered with threatening clouds. This somber scene intensifies the painting's somber atmosphere and reflects the artist's inner turmoil.

Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, 1940

Frida Kahlo loved animals very much. She kept a small zoo at her "Casa Azul." She immortalized some of her animals in her artwork, for example, the spider monkey that her husband Diego Rivera gave her. The toy monkey can also be seen above Frida's right shoulder as a symbol of the devil.

The thorns digging into her neck in this self-portrait represent the pain she feels because of her divorce from Diego. A lifeless hummingbird hangs from her necklace, its wings framed by Frida's unibrow. Dead hummingbirds are considered lucky charms in Mexican culture.

Above the artist's left shoulder, a black cat can be seen, apparently threatening the hummingbird. The cat symbolizes misfortune and death. The butterflies in the painter's hair represent resurrection.

the most photographed work in the exhibition “Fantastic Women”

The Broken Column, 1944

One of Frida Kahlo's most outstanding works is undoubtedly "The Broken Column ." This painting powerfully embodies the profound pain that resulted from her devastating accident at the age of 18 and accompanied her throughout her life. Created after a painful spinal operation that confined her to a corset, the painting reflects Kahlo's inner and outer suffering.

Set against a stark desert landscape, the composition presents the artist, supported by a haunting metal structure; a broken column runs vertically through her body in place of her spine. Covered in nails, these elements symbolize the unbearable pain Kahlo endured relentlessly.

This work is part of the important collection of the Museo Dolores Olmedo and invites the viewer to explore the complex relationship between art, identity and pain in Kahlo's life.

My birth, 1934

In her tireless quest to artistically capture the most significant moments of her life, Frida Kahlo created the poignant work "My Birth ." This remarkable painting depicts her mother with her face veiled, alluding to impending death and simultaneously highlighting the grief of loss. The artist's own face is positioned between her mother's legs and surrounded by a pool of blood, referencing both her personal history and her own miscarriages.

The lower part of the painting features a portrait of the Virgen de las Angustias, accompanied by a parchment that was never written on, thus symbolizing a mysterious emptiness. Today, this important work of art is part of the private collection of the singer Madonna and remains a testament to Kahlo's intense exploration of life and death, as well as her ability to express profound emotions in a powerful visual language.

A few small dagger wounds, 1935

Frida's powerful 1935 work, "A Few Little Stabs in the Back," poignantly reveals her profound pain over Diego Rivera's infidelity with her sister Cristina. This emotional expression is further intensified by the tragic fate of another woman murdered by her husband.

The title of the artwork refers to a statement by a murderer that Frida read in a newspaper: During his police interrogation, he explained that he had only “unos cuantos piquetitos” (in English: a few small stab wounds), which emphatically highlights the brutality of his act.

This important work of art is part of the collection of the Dolores Olmedo Museum and offers viewers the opportunity to engage more deeply with the emotional and historical contexts of Frida's life and work.

Diego in my thoughts, 1943

Self-Portrait as a Tehuana , or Diego in My Mind, is a fascinating work that reflects Frida Kahlo's deep admiration for her husband, Diego Rivera. Dressed in a magnificent Tehuano costume that mirrors the rich culture of the Zapotec people —a tradition Rivera always cherished—Frida is depicted with the image of her lover on her forehead.

This striking detail suggests her inner turmoil and obsession. The work belongs to the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection and represents not only a personal expression of Kahlo's work but also a significant example of the fusion of identity and culture in her art.

Long live life, 1954

Possibly the last artwork signed by Frida Kahlo, Viva la Vida (Long Live Life ), is considered a fascinating testament to her artistic engagement with life's challenges. Interpretations of this impressive work range from a profound homage to the will to live to a powerful response to Franco's fascism. One thing is undeniable: Viva la Vida embodies a striking visual transformation of pain into art.

It is believed that this masterpiece actually dates from an earlier period in Kahlo's career; however, she only wrote the phrase "viva la vida" on the watermelons in this painting during the last months of her life. The connection between her personal experiences and the universal message of the work makes it a significant reflection on life and suffering.

This extraordinary work of art is currently on display at the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City. A visit to this institution offers not only the opportunity to appreciate Kahlo's exceptional talent, but also the chance to delve deeper into the motifs and style of this unique artist.

How a photomontage of Frida with a gun went around the world in 2012

The image of Frida Kahlo with a pistol is a collage by Robert Toren . Toren added Kahlo's head (from the photograph by US photographer Imogene Cunningham) to a 1983 photograph Toren took of rock musician Donnette Thayer from Sacramento.

The resulting montage went viral in July 2012. Later that year, Russian artist Alexander Djikia Torens Frida with a pistol with a photograph of Russian Futurist poet Vladimir Mayakovsky .

This second montage also spread virally, mainly in Europe and other regions where Mayakovsky was known.

Frida's Legacy

Frida Kahlo's influence on modern art is undeniable. Her legacy can be found in the work of countless artists who continue to embody her spirit of authenticity, resilience, and radical self-expression. Kahlo's influence manifests itself in the dissolution of artistic boundaries, the amplification of marginalized voices, and the use of symbolism and surrealism to address complex themes.

She remains a formative figure who has significantly influenced the development of contemporary art and reminds us of the transformative power of art by questioning existing norms, giving voice to diverse perspectives, and driving social change.

Buy artwork in the style of Frida Kahlo: visit our “Inspirational Frida Kahlo Art Collection” on Pinterest

The renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is known for her self-portraits, in which she expresses pain and passion. Her works are also characterized by intense and vibrant colors. In Mexico, she is rightly appreciated for her interest in Mexican and indigenous culture. Feminists particularly celebrate her portrayal of the female experience and form.

In our article " Inspired by Frida Kahlo – Hand-picked artworks as a tribute to the Mexican art legend," you will find magnificent artworks that are strongly inspired by Frida Kahlo and/or created in the style of the iconic Mexican artist. Many of these works are unique and, in most cases, still available for purchase.

You will also find what you are looking for in our Pinterest collection “The Inspirational Frida Kahlo Collection”

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