Frida Kahlo: The History Behind Her Art

At one point or another, we all have been exposed to unconventional woman in art who has been more recognizable by her signature unibrow and flower headdresses. This woman is known as Frida Kahlo, a well known Mexican American surrealist artist who went through many struggles in dealings with a challenging upbringing in a time of revolution and a lifetime of pain. But with a challenge, there is also strength. Kahlo possessed many strengths that allowed her to prevail against these factors that went against her and become an icon in art.

Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderon also known as Frida Kahlo was born on July 6, 1907 in Coyocoan Mexico in her family home known as La Casa Azul (The Blue House) later referred to in many of her paintings. Her parents were Guillermo Kahlo and Matilde Calderon y Gonzalez. Frida was the middle child out of four children, once remarked that she grew up in a world surrounded by females (Kahlo Biography). Throughout most of her life, however, Frida remained close to her father.

Frida Kahlo was a very talented Mexican artist that revolutionized art at a very young age. Her work is still idolized and celebrated today and is studied by many artists, institutes of higher education, museums, and fans. Kahlo was born in the town of Coyoacan, Mexico on July the sixth in the year of 1907 (Kettenmann 3). She made around 143 paintings, and out of those 143 paintings, 55 were self-portraits that included symbolism of her physical and emotion pain. Furthermore, in her portraits she used symbolism to express her wounds and sexuality. She use to say: “I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality” (Fuentes 41). Her paintings style include of vibrant colors and was heavily influenced

A person’s state of mind and their emotions can be expressed in numerous ways without a word ever being spoken. In writing, a poet may share their heartbreak through verse, while a musician will spread their joy and happiness through melody. A photographer may express a moment of beauty and awe through a vibrant image, while an artist can use paint to silently convey turmoil using dark colors or shadow. Taking a more in depth look into the visual arts, it is evident that artists will often use their artwork, such as paintings, to convey an autobiographical account of different, but poignant periods in their lives. Some will paint their bare souls on to the canvas, leaving little to contemplated. Others make their loneliness and sadness subtle,

Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter who is best known for her self portraits. Frida was born as Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón but later changed it to Frida Kahlo. She was born on July 6, 1907 in her parents house known as La Casa Azul in Coyoacán, Mexico. At that time, Coyoacan was a small town on the outskirts of Mexico City. Later throughout the years Kahlo claimed to have been born on July 7, 1910 to coincide with the date of when the Mexican Revolution began. Her parents were Guillermo Kahlo and Matilde Calderón y González which they had four daughters, Matilde (1898-1951), Adriana (1902-1968), Frida (1907-1954) and Cristina (1908-1964), Kahlo was the third daughter. By age 16 Frida Kahlo was able to read not only in Spanish but English and German as well.

Frida Kahlo was a half-mexican, half-hungarian painter of the 20th century born Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón in Coyoacán, Mexico City on July 6, 1907. During her short lived life, she had many accomplishments. She was a surrealist artist whos paintings reflected her thoughts and feelings. Her creative style was always amazing but confusing. Unfortunately, she lived most of her artistic life in the shadow of her husband, Diego Rivera, and her work was not truly recognized until after her death.

Frida Kahlo was one of the most influential female artists in the twentieth century. Being a woman in a misogynistic career, Kahlo did not experience the fame she has today while she was still alive. Through her captivating paintings she reveals the dark side of life, relating to her own experiences. Many articles, bibliographies, movies, and even Frida Kahlo’s diary have been published for scholars, artists, and feminists to discuss the influence Kahlo had on art and society. Although the movie Frida was released forty-eight years after Frida Kahlo’s death, the movie accurately depicts her dismal life and her connection to her artwork.

In 1940 Frida Kahlo painted a self portrait after her divorce from Diego Rivera which left the world astonished because it was unforseen. This was one of her boldest works and examplified her pain to the viewer. Frida Kahlo was considered one of Mexico´s greatest artists. She was born in 1907 and died in 1954. She suffered alot in life, but one of the main accidents that transformed her life forever was the bus collision. On september 17, 1925 Frida and her boyfriend Alex Arias were on the bus to Coyoacn Mexico. As the bus driver began to turn on to Calzada de Tlpan, a street trolley approached. The bus driver tried to pass in front of the turning streetcar cautiously. Unfortunately he did not make it. This resulted in a handrail peircing through Frida´s abdomen. The collision left her in a great deal of pain, and she spent a full three months in a body cast. After months of recovery, Frida was able to learn to walk again but was left unable to have children. She would bare both the physical and emotional scars

They say, “pictures are worth a thousand words” and I believe when it comes to my chosen artist, Frida Kahlo, her portraits could not be a better example of that saying. All of the 200 paintings done by Frida Kahlo say more about her life and what she experienced than any article I have ever read about her. From her health issues and violent bus accident to her tumultuous marriage with her husband, Diego Rivera is all an influence in her paintings.

People may refer to Frida Kahlo as the lady with the unibrow, but others refer to her as one the greatest Mexican painters. She was born on July 6, 1907 in Coyocoan Mexico. When she was about 6 she was diagnosed with polio which is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to paralysis, breathing problems, or even death. (Crosta 1) Due to polio she was bedridden for 9 months. Frida attended the National Preparatory School where she first noticed Diego Rivera who is a famous muralist. At this time she fell in love with another man Alejandro Gomez Arias. She and Alejandro were on a trip when a monumental moment happened which will change her life forever…. (Frida Kahlo Biography 1)

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo’s fame only grew larger after her death, bringing her art as well as her personal life into museums, books, and also movies. Through her life Kahlo dealt with various illness, tumultuous relationships, and was even involved in some political movements. Consequently, her art was influenced by all the experiences as seen and felt through her own eyes and flesh.

One of my most favorite artists is the Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo. She was born Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderon in Coyoacan, Mexico, July 6, 1907 and died July 13, 1954. She was one of four daughters born to a Hungarian-Jewish father and a mother of Spanish and Mexican Indian descent. Frida Kahlo is the most famous Mexican woman artist on the contemporary art scene. In 1922, Kahlo hung out with a group of politically and intellectually like-minded students. The Mexican mural movement begins. Frida first learns of Diego Rivera, who is painting his mural "Creation" at the school 's lecture hall. Kahlo becoming a painter, was not a part of Frida 's career goals. Her goal in life was to become a doctor but a tragic accident at age 18 left her mentally and physically scared for life. It changed the course of her life forever. It was during her months of convalescence that Frida began to take painting seriously…"to combat the boredom and pain". she said. "I felt I still had enough energy to do something other than studying to become a doctor. Without giving it any particular thought, I started painting." It was the beginning of a life-long career for Frida.

Frida Kahlo's influence still lingers around the world. Even with Frida dead for almost two decades, she is still celebrated and thought of as an idol. Frida Kahlo was an artist in many different ways. Besides Frida's incredible talent to paint surrealist thoughts and emotions on canvas, she also was and artist in her mind and body. Frida's attire of traditional Mexican clothing, which consisted of long, colorful dresses and exotic jewelry, and her thick connection eyebrows, became her trademark. To the public, Frida Kahlo appeared to be full of spirit and joy. She walked through life happily, with a smile glued to her face. However, her feelings of anguish, anger, unhappiness of her painful miscarriages, and

Frida Kahlo is a world-renowned Mexican painter known for her shocking self-portaits filled with painful imagery. Her artwork was seen by many as surrealist and socialist, but she refused the labels put on herself. Until today, her works have been able to exude the same playful and wild feel as before (Fisher n.p). Her legacy as a painter has attracted prominent people like Madonna who has confessed her admiration for the painter. Not only that but fashion designers are frequently inspired by her iconic Tijuana dresses while her paintings have been priced at more than three million dollars (Bauer 115).

Frida Kahlo is by far one of my favorite artists to ever exist. I love the fact that she’s a simple woman from Mexico who became a powerful and well known painter. Her art work is very different to all other paintings I’ve seen so far; they’re so vibrant in color and just overflow with emotion. I first heard about Frida Kahlo when I was about 12 years old and I saw the film based on her life and that really caught my attention and stuck with me. I never really expected to see her artwork and learn about this particular artist but I’m glad I did because it really makes the film clear to me and gives me a form of understanding when it comes to her paintings.