Frida Kahlo

The Mexican artist ‘ Frieda Kahlo’ is one of the most important 20 th Century artists.

Frieda Kahlo – Her Life

 Born July 6, 1907 in the town of Coyoacán in

Mexico,

Frida Kahlo survived many difficult events in her life, including contracting polio as a child, a long recovery from a serious car accident and two failed marriages.

Frieda Kahlo – Her Life

  Kahlo survived thanks to her immense strength and strong will to live, she was hospitalised many times, underwent somewhere near 30 operations and suffered much pain in her life.

She used alcohol and drugs as a way to help deal with the pain.

She also

expressed much of her pain and frustrations through her art.

Frieda Kahlo – Her Life

 She used these experiences, combined with strong

paintings

.

Mexican and Native American cultural influences,

to

create highly personal

 Some people may think her paintings are fantasy, surrealist or Magic Realism, but

realistic

.

she considered her art to be

Frieda Kahlo – Her Life



She painted using vibrant colors in a style that was influenced by the Mexican culture.

Frieda Kahlo – Her Life

Scream by Edvard Munch typifies Symbolism. Salvador Dali ‘Narrative Surrealist Painting’ 1950  She was also influenced by European art movements such include

Realism , Symbolism , and Surrealism .

Many of her works are

self-portraits symbolically express her own pain

.

that

Frida Kahlo 1907-1954

 Self Portrait with Velvet Dress 1926    This is a self portrait of Frida Kahlo and her first serious work It was painted as a gift for her student boyfriend who had left her and she hoped to win him back The aristocratic pose reflects Kahlo interest in renaissance art, while the mannerist elongation of the neck are influenced by the work of Amedeo Modigliani .

Frida Kahlo 1907-1954

    Self Portrait with Itzcuintli Dog 1938 This picture shows an seductive young woman with full face and sensual lips. The mood of this painting is of loneliness. Only the tiny Itzcuintli dog offers Frida Kahlo the security and affection that she frequently sought fro many of her pets

Frida Kahlo 1907-1954

 Self Portrait with Monkey1938  In Mexican Mythology the monkey is the patron of dance, but also a symbol lust.

 Here however, the artist portrays the animal in such a way that it becomes the only truly living tender and soulful being in the painting with its arm placed protectively around her neck.

Frida Kahlo 1907-1954

 Self Portrait dedicated to Dr Eleosser 1940   On the baderole at the bottom of the dedication (translated) reads “I painted my portrait in the year of 1940 for Dr Leo Eleosser, my doctor and best friend. With all love Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo 1907-1954

 Me & My Parrots 1941  This portrait arose during her love affair with Nickolas Murray.

 He helped her prepare for her exhibition in New York  The four parrots are taken from Hindu Imagery, where they serve the bearers of the love god Kama.

 And are used to symbolise the artists relationship with Murray

Frida Kahlo 1907-1954

 Self Portrait with Monkeys 1943  Diego saw Kahlo as “the personification of all natural glory”.  He was thereby referring both outward appearance and the subject she incorporated into her paintings  She painted the flora and fauna of Mexico, depicted cacti, plants of the primeval forest, volcanic rock.

Frida Kahlo 1907-1954

     Web Sites www.Tate.org.uk

www.pbs.org

www.Ask.com

www.fridakahlo.com

 Go to the shared drive for this PPT and the portrait images for your essay.