FRIDA KAHLO
1907-1954
México
FRIDA KAHLO (1907-1954)
Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter famous for her self-portraits . Kahlo's paintings were a reflection of her deep physical and emotional pain. Kahlo and her paintings are now recognized as a symbol of Mexican pride, feminism, and surrealism. The event that most impacted Kahlo's life occurred when she was 18 years old. On her way home from the university, Kahlo was in a horrific trolley accident. As a result, she suffered many medical complications and had numerous surgeries. Kahlo would suffer physical pain from this accident for the rest of her life and sadly would never be able to bear children. Due to her immobilization, Kahlo began painting to pass the time and as a release of self expression. Kahlo had always admired the work of famous painter and muralist Diego Rivera. In 1927 Kahlo and Rivera met while Rivera was working on a mural at the Public Ministry of Education. They became friends and Rivera encouraged Kahlo by providing her insight on her work. Soon after, a romantic relationship developed and they were married in 1929. Kahlo and Rivera's relationship was passionate yet emotionally painful and the couple divorced in 1939. However, they remarried one year later in 1940. Kahlo once said: "I suffered two grave accidents in my life…One in which a streetcar knocked me down and the other was Diego." The trolley accident left Kahlo crippled physically and Rivera crippled her emotionally. Kahlo died in 1954. She painted her reality and left a legacy of over 200 paintings, drawings, and sketches. |