Brushstrokes of Resilience: The Artistic Journey of Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo is no doubt the most well known female artist in modern times with her dramatic art being reminiscent of her turbulent life. As a child, Kahlo enjoyed art from a young age and received instruction from printmaker Fernando Fernández. She filled notebooks with sketches and began working as a paid engraving apprentice; however she never considered becoming an artist as a career during her childhood–which soon changed. 

She was in a bus accident at 18, which confined her to bed for three months, and left her in a constant life of pain and permanently disabled. She began to paint during this time, considering a career as a medical illustrator, however that dream never came to fruition. Her paintings became a way for her to explore identity and existence, quoting Kahlo herself, “I paint myself because I am often alone and I am the subject I know best.” By this time, Kahlo primarily painted portraits of her sisters, herself, and her friends from school. Her early artwork and correspondence highlights that she was especially inspired by European artisans, particularly Renaissance masters like Sandro Botticelli and Bronzino and avant-garde movements like cubism and Neue Sachlichkeit.

Kahlo’s artistic legacy takes the form of a remarkable biographical narrative in which she vividly conveys her own experiences, suffering, convictions, and passions through drama and a wealth of symbolism. Her unusual life narrative threatens to overwhelm her artistic contribution, which provides a difficulty for curators and art historians given how closely related her life and works are. The dramatic elements of Frida's biography are revitalized by the interesting fusion of pictorial and symbolic systems with various historical roots that appear in her paintings.

One of her most notable works, I would say, is The Two Fridas. The painting is a representation of Kahlo’s feelings after her divorce with her late husband Diego Rivera. This painting is meant to portray the two personalities, one Frida showing her traditional side with her adorned in a Tehuana costume while the other Frida is dressed in a modern style. 

This painting is special in particular since it illustrates Kahlo’s chaotic emotions and constant turmoil during that time period, shown through her two hearts being visible and bleeding. The use of symbolism using the hearts bleeding onto her dress–a sign of damage or death– and the stormy weather in the background–a reflection of Kahlo’s inner feelings–portray her as being deeply hurt and in a flurry of emotions after her divorce. Works like these broke the barrier for modern age art, setting the standard for surrealism and the use of native patterns and symbolism in art.