Artist Research: Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo (1907 - 1954) was the most famous painter in Mexico thanks to her unusual paintings where she reflected herself through an interesting palette of colours that represented the idea of identity, human body, and death (Zelazko, 2018.
“Self Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird” by Frida Kahlo, 1940
She demonstrated her work through Naïve art style that helped her to better reveal and show her vision. This Naïve style was known for its individual approach to drawing, where the parameter of formal drawing methods was replaced in favour of the artist's own vision (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2013). Moreover, symbolism is often used in her works, through which she showed herself and her moral problems better. Because symbolism was used for representation of the significant symbols under shapes, lines, patterns and tones. Which is an interesting topic I can use for my project, by symbolising community through certain elements in the background or details (Art in Context, 2022).
“The Two Fridas” by Frida Kahlo, 1939
This double self-portrait by Frida Kahlo is one of her the most famous works, which symbolises her mental pain during the divorce (The Art Story, 2017). On the left part of the art, Kahlo is dressed in European attire, reminiscent of her wedding dress. On the right, she appears in traditional Mexican clothing, reflecting her growing interest in indigenous culture influenced by her ex-husband's nationalism. She holds in her hands a medallion with the image of her husband, symbolising a strong bond with him.
The stormy sky and the bleeding from the artery in the painting highlight Kahlo's physical suffering. Blood, which has been repeated more than once as a symbol in her works, embodies her experiences and pain, as well as complex views on femininity and fertility. Kahlo, dressed in a European dress, has a dissected heart with a severed artery, which symbolises her deep loss and separation from her ex-husband. At the same time, Kahlo's heart, dressed in a Mexican dress, remains connected to her locket with a picture of her former love, symbolising a strong emotional connection that still remains. This painting reveals her most intimate feelings and cultural identity (The Art Story, 2017). She is an amazing example for the development of my ideas for the project and inspirational figure for all future work.
This double self-portrait by Frida Kahlo is one of her the most famous works, which symbolises her mental pain during the divorce (The Art Story, 2017). On the left part of the art, Kahlo is dressed in European attire, reminiscent of her wedding dress. On the right, she appears in traditional Mexican clothing, reflecting her growing interest in indigenous culture influenced by her ex-husband's nationalism. She holds in her hands a medallion with the image of her husband, symbolising a strong bond with him.
The stormy sky and the bleeding from the artery in the painting highlight Kahlo's physical suffering. Blood, which has been repeated more than once as a symbol in her works, embodies her experiences and pain, as well as complex views on femininity and fertility. Kahlo, dressed in a European dress, has a dissected heart with a severed artery, which symbolises her deep loss and separation from her ex-husband. At the same time, Kahlo's heart, dressed in a Mexican dress, remains connected to her locket with a picture of her former love, symbolising a strong emotional connection that still remains. This painting reveals her most intimate feelings and cultural identity (The Art Story, 2017). She is an amazing example for the development of my ideas for the project and inspirational figure for all future work.
References:
Art in Context. “Symbolism Art - Learning about the History and Artworks of This Movement.” Artincontext.org, 17 Jan. 2022, artincontext.org/symbolism-art/.
The Art Story. “Frida Kahlo.” The Art Story, 2017, www.theartstory.org/artist/kahlo-frida/.
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Naïve Art.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 30 July 2013, www.britannica.com/art/naive-art.
Zelazko, Alicja. “Frida Kahlo | Biography, Paintings, & Facts.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 9 July 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Frida-Kahlo.
How do you think Kahlo is going to or has influenced the work you are making this term? Tell us in this post. Are you going to use the idea of symbolism that Kahlo uses in her work to tell a story? Tell us in this post.
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