What follows is a very brief representation of Frida's body of work, several self-portraits, some of which are pretty straightforward; others need more explanation.
|
What follows is a very brief representation of Frida's body of work, several self-portraits, some of which are pretty straightforward; others need more explanation. |
|
 Self Portrait with Monkeys, 1943 In Mayan myths and in Western tradition, monkeys have a sexual connotation. As Frida was natural and uninhibited in sex, she may well have wanted to express this sentiment in her paintings.  Self-Portrait, 1940Frida presents herself as a martyr by wearing Christ's crown of thorns. The dead hummingbird is a Mexican folk charm used to bring luck in love; in this painting, it also might refer to the Holy Spirit. Although Frida left the Catholic Church at about age 21, she still remained steeped in it, often making herself an icon for herself and others to worship.  Self-Portrait with Bonito,1941 A somber portrait of Frida, dressed in mourning after the death of her father  The Broken Column, 1944 Painted during a five-month period in which she was in a steel corset, Frida expresses her anguish in many symbolic ways: nails pierce her face and body; her torso is split in two, revealing a cracked Ionic column which penetrates her from loin to chin. Her doll-like stiffness also underscores her helplessness and the bondage of her corset.  Self-Portrait, 1933 A straightforward self-portrait. |
 Self-Portrait as a Tehuana (Diego in My Thoughts), 1943 Frida adopted the Tehuana dress because Diego liked it. Here she wears the ceremonial headdress in an effort to get Diego's attention. His portrait on her forehead suggests that he is on her mind.  Self-Portrait, 1948 Frida's second portrait as a Tehuana. By the tears on her face, it is clear that she is unhappy. This ceremonial headdress derived from a petticoat found in a woman's trunk lost in a shipwreck. The Tehuantepec natives thought the petticoat should be worn on the head.  Self-Portrait, 1940 The banner is inscribed to Dr. Eloesser, "my doctor and my best friend. With all love." She wears earrings given to her by Piccaso when she went to Paris. Painted during the year she and Diego were apart, she looks like she is dressed up with no escort to take her anywhere.  Selt-Portait, 1926 Frida's first self-portrait, with obvious influence by Modigliani. This was painted as a token of her affection for her boyfriend Alejandro Gomez Arias.  Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair, 1940 Frida cut her hair after her divorce. She removed the Tehuana costume which gave so much pleasure to Diego and replaced it with a man's suit which is too big for her and must be his. She holds a lock of her shorn hair and the scissors with which she cut it. |
|
 The Two Fridas, c.1930  Henry Ford Hospital, 1932 |
|
|
|
Contents | Frida Kahlo | Swing | Saffron Fish AOL Diary | Pasionara | My $1.59 Worth | Critic's Corner Point Of View | Ask the Minx | Past Issues | E-Mail Me All information © 1998 by the WebGoddess. No portion of this site may be copied without permission.
| |