What better day to mention the work of Frida Kahlo's than Cinco de Mayo? As an art student pursuing portraiture it would be a sin not to acknowledge such a prolific contemporary portrait artist.
I think what drew me to her work originally was the strength she shows within her paintings both as a female and a female artist, combined with the underlying story of her fascinating, yet tragic life. A painting which shows this tragedy in a particular poignant way is 'Broken Column'. It shows her constant struggle with pain and invasive operations. Her nakedness could indicate her vulnerability and inability to change her situation. The metal banding round her body works as a surreal brace to stabilise her disjointed body in reality but also her life metaphorically. Even the background is symbolic to her life as she stands alone. As this painting is about her physical and emotional pain it could allude to her struggle to deal with these issues alone. The dark patches in the barren landscape could allude to the dark aspects of her life.
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| Frida Kahlo 'Broken Column' 1944 |
The other day I watched the film 'Frida' by Julie Taymor. It is a fascinating film documenting Kahlo's life and works. For someone who wants to understand the connections between the two, it really helps put her paintings into context as well as giving a good insight into the Mexican culture.
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