Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo de Rivera was a Mexican painter born in Coyoacan outside of Mexico City. Known for her self-portraits, her works displayed an uncompromising depiction of female form and experience. She was born July 6, 1907 and transitioned July 13, 1954. Some characterized her work as surrealist, as well as emblematic of national and indigenous Mexican tradition.

Background

She contracted polio at the age of six (6), and experienced lifelong health challenges that are reflected in her art. Kahlo said, “I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best”.

Her father, Guillermo Kahlo, was born in Germany, while her mother, Matilde Calderon y Gonzalez, was indigenous as well as Spanish descent. Frida was the third of four (4) daughters, and she also had two (2) half sisters, and grew up during the Mexican Revolution (1910).

As a girl, Frida, despite her health challenges, participated in boxing and other sports. In 1925 she was in a bus that collided with a trolley car, and she suffered serious injuries. She recovered, regained her ability to walk, but was in extreme pain for the remainder of her life. She underwent thirty-five (35) operations as a result of her accident.

Career

After her accident, she discontinued her study of medicine, and devoted herself full time to her art. She painted while in a full body cast. Her mother had a special easel made that allowed her to paint in bed. Of her 143 paintings, 55 are self portraits that epitomize her pain and struggle. She would insist, “I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality”.

She went to France in 1939 at the invitation of Andre Breton, and was featured in Paris at an exhibition of her paintings. One of her paintings, “The Frame”, was purchased by the Louvre. Thus she became the first 20th century Mexican artist ever to have a work of art purchased by this renowned museum.

Personal Life

Well known Mexican painter, Deigo Rivera, recognized her unique talent, and encouraged her artistic development. They were eventually married in 1929, which was the beginning of a tumultuous union.

Her work was not widely recognized until several decades after her death. In the early 1980’s she became very prominent as a result of the Mexican artistic movement called Neomexicanismo. Hayden Herrera published an influential biography of her called “Frida: The Biography of Frida Kahlo”, which became a bestseller worldwide.

Frida Kahlo was featured on a new 500 peso note with her 1949 painting, “Love’s Embrace of the Universe, Earth, Mexico, I, Diego and Mr. Xolotl" on the back of the note, and her husband on the front of the note. This was issued on August 30, 2010 by the Bank of Mexico.

There was an exhibition of her works in the USA in 2008. Forty (40) of her self-portraits, still lifes, and portraits were displayed at several venues including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Walker Art Center In Minneapolis.

Her family home, Casa Azul (Blue House), was built by her father in 1907, and is where she grew up and returned in her later years. It is now a museum housing her artifacts, and is a popular tourist destination.

Her early childhood physical development was greatly impaired by both her illness and vehicular accident. This coupled with the emotional disturbance of a tumultuous marriage, provided quite the challenge for her. Frida Kahlo exemplified courage, strength, and the ability to accept and work through many challenges, while accomplishing her life’s work and passion. She is indeed a role model worthy of aspiration. Click here for the Transforming Child Behavior Home Page.

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