Frida Kahlo is a widely renowned Mexican artist who was famously known for her depiction of both passion and pain in her paintings and her preference for bold, vibrant colors. In addition, she is praised in Mexico for her consideration of Mexican and native culture and by women’s activists for portraying the average woman’s experience and structure.
On July 6, 1907, Frida was born and died on July 13, 1954, aged 47 years. Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits are what she was best known for. Her self-portraits depicted her personality so well and revealed the kind of person she was.
To know Frida Kahlo is to love her. The Mexican painter was as complex and unpredictable as her art, from her elaborate traditional Tehuana costume gowns to her messy yet meticulous braids.
Early Life
Frida Kahlo, born in Coyoacan, Mexico, on July 6, 1907, was the oldest of four children. She was the daughter of a German father and a Mexican mother who were both artists. Her father worked as an art dealer and encouraged her artistic pursuits from a young age.
They lived in relative wealth compared with other families in Mexico at that time; her family’s home had electricity, running water, and indoor plumbing—something most people did not have access to.
Coyoacan is located just west of Mexico City, where Frida spent most of her life after marrying Diego Rivera (1886-1957) in 1929 and moving into his house La Casa Azul (the Blue House).
She Spent Most Of Her Life In The House Where She Was Born
She lived most of her life in the house where she was born. But by the time she was 11, her family had moved to Coyoacan. She stayed there until she died—and it’s this house that serves as the site of many famous drawings by Frida Kahlo.
In 1938, just two years after they met at a party, Frida Kahlo married Diego Rivera (and yes—you can see them together hanging out on their honeymoon in Paris).
He had been an early mentor to her work and helped bring it into the spotlight; because of this connection to him and his reputation as an artist, many people believed it would be impossible for Frida Kahlo to make it on her own without his help. But then again: when has being underestimated ever stopped someone from becoming great?
Self-Portrait In A Velvet Dress
Self-portrait in a Velvet Dress – Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo painted a series of self-portraits throughout her life, and they’re characterized by their isolation and a strong sense of body. These works have been regarded as autobiographies, which makes sense considering that many people view Frida Kahlo’s biography as one inextricably linked to her art.
The artist presents herself as an elegant woman dressed in silk robes and velvet slippers in this painting. Her dress is decorated with embroidery made from shells and beads—a reference to indigenous Mexican culture—and her hair is arranged in long braids on both sides of her head. At first glance, it seems like she might be attending some fancy event or sitting for a portrait (perhaps to commemorate an upcoming wedding).
However, if you look a tad bit closer, you’ll notice no guests around. Instead, Frida stands alone inside what appears to be an empty room lined with shelves full of books and other objects that hint at luxury rather than comfort or practicality (the gilded mirror above her head).
Studied At National Preparatory School
Frida studied at the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria, where she was one of only a few female students. She took lessons from Juan O’Gorman, a Spanish painter and muralist who taught her modern techniques to incorporate into her work. Frida was the first woman to graduate from the school, and she went on to study medicine at Universidad Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM).
Frida’s time at UNAM allowed her to take classes with Dr. Elvira Gonzalez Bravo, a renowned surgeon specializing in treating women who had suffered traumatic injuries during childbirth. Dr. Gonzalez Bravo taught Frida about anatomy through drawing cadavers and examining patients. At the same time, they were still alive so that Frida could observe how their bodies worked in real-time—information she would later use when painting her own Frida Kahlo self-portraits.
Frida’s Accidents
In September of 1925, Frida was just 15 years old and returning home from school when her bus collided with a streetcar carrying passengers. The accident left her with lifelong injuries; she spent three months in the hospital and underwent 35 operations during her lifetime.
Frida said she never felt pain during her surgeries because she was given a local anesthetic that numbed the area. But if you look at her paintings and photos, you can see that there is something very raw about them – they seem to reflect what she went through during those operations.
- Frida Kahlo suffered multiple fractures, including a broken spine, broken collarbone, and pelvis, while her right leg shattered in 11 places, and her right foot was dislocated and crushed. She spent an entire trimester in the hospital recovering from her injuries and underwent 35 operations during her lifetime.
- She was in a coma for a couple of weeks and had no feeling from the waist down for two years. Frida returned home to Mexico City on crutches with splints on both legs to recover before going back to Europe for further treatment.
In Paris, she married Diego Rivera; however, the couple divorced after seven years. But not long after, she fell off a bus while pregnant with their second child Guadalupe who shortly passed away due to complications relating to premature birth. In fact, she also lost four other children.
During this time, Frida continued painting despite being confined to bed rest by doctors’ orders due to pregnancy issues which led some critics to claim that they were too graphic because she kept painting scenes of herself as an invalid. This may have been confirmed that she used herself as inspiration when creating artworks based on personal experiences such as suffering through childbirth or being unable to walk due to other injuries sustained during World War II. In addition, she had served on behalf of General Francisco Franco’s Republican army.
Conclusion
Here’s to hoping that you enjoyed this brief overview of the life and work of Frida Kahlo. She is an artist whose work has inspired millions around the world. If you want to see more of her paintings or learn more about the artist herself, check out books on Frida Kahlo, the artist.
