Frida Kahlo

Frida Paintings

Frida's Paintings always reflect her Personal traumas (troubled marriage, painful miscarriages, amorous affairs). Which is why her works are provocative and disturbing . Most of her paintings are self-portraits, and they talk about her pain and wounds. The liberal use of bright colors reflects the indigenous Mexican culture. Symbolism and other dramatic devises are unapologetically used to depict harsh and gory content.

Some of her most popular paintings are discussed below:

Two Fridas- The duality of her persona is very clearly projected in this painting. Two parts of the painter are shown holding onto each other. Conflict within is ultimately resolved by an attempt of reaching out. A part of her is suffering and wanting death and the other wanting life.



Henry Ford Hospital- Most critics suggest that this painting was made after a miscarriage. The trauma of being hospitalized in a strange and alien city away from the comforts of home could also be a reason for its disturbing nature .She later claimed this painting as a memory of being in the hospital. In the painting she lies in a hospital bed holding onto red lines, blood vessels connected to various symbols of parts of herself. The symbols are- a pelvis, an embryo, a broken spine, a flower, a snail, and a machine, all of these have some significance in her life. A crouching Frida is bleeding on the bed and she desperately holds onto the cord as if holding on to last bit of hope.

Self Portrait as a Tehuana (Diego on My Mind)- this painting is an ode to her husband Diego. Frida as Mexican bride with intricate lace and flowers on her crown has a portrait of Diego superimposed on her forehead suggesting the obvious- Diego in her mind. She wrote into her diary about this time “…Diego… beginning… Diego…builder… Diego…my child… Diego…my sweetheart… Diego…painter… Diego…my lover… Diego…my husband… Diego…my friend… Diego…my mother… Diego…my father…Diego…my son… Diego…I… Diego…universe… Diversity in Unity. Why do I call him my Diego? He never was and he never will be mine. He belongs to himself.”

Frida's painful and troubled life came to an end July 13, 1954. the last entry in her diary read: "I hope the exit is joyful; and I hope never to return." But anyone who has experienced Frida's painting will hope otherwise. We hope there is another Frida…another life which inspires us to celebrate pain in the grandest fashion.