Frida Kahlo

Who Was Frida Kahlo?

Frida Kahlo is regarded as one of Mexico’s most significant artists, best known for her profound self-portraits that explore identity, pain, and the human experience. After surviving a severe bus accident, which profoundly impacted her physical and emotional well-being, Kahlo dedicated herself to painting, primarily focusing on self-portraits. Her political activism blossomed in the 1920s, culminating in her marriage to fellow communist artist Diego Rivera in 1929. Kahlo exhibited her work in notable locations such as Paris and Mexico before her passing in 1954.

Family, Education, and Early Life

Born Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón on July 6, 1907, in Coyoacán, Mexico City, Kahlo was the daughter of Wilhelm (Guillermo) Kahlo, a German photographer who immigrated to Mexico, and Matilde Calderón. She had two older sisters, Matilde and Adriana, and a younger sister, Cristina, who was born shortly after her.

At the age of six, Kahlo contracted polio, which left her bedridden for nine months and caused lasting damage to her right leg and foot. Her father encouraged her to engage in activities such as soccer, swimming, and wrestling—unconventional pursuits for girls at the time—to aid in her recovery.

In 1922, Kahlo enrolled at the National Preparatory School, where she was one of the few female students. She became known for her vibrant personality and her affinity for traditional clothing and jewelry. During her time at school, she associated with a politically engaged group of students, leading to her involvement with the Young Communist League and the Mexican Communist Party.

Frida Kahlo’s Accident

On September 17, 1925, Kahlo and her school friend Alejandro Gómez Arias were involved in a catastrophic bus accident when their vehicle collided with a streetcar. Kahlo suffered life-threatening injuries, including being impaled by a steel handrail, and sustained multiple fractures to her spine and pelvis. Following several weeks of hospitalization at the Red Cross Hospital in Mexico City, she returned home to recuperate, during which she began painting. Her first self-portrait was completed the following year and gifted to Gómez Arias.

Frida Kahlo’s Marriage to Diego Rivera

Kahlo married renowned Mexican muralist Diego Rivera in 1929, after reconnecting with him in 1928. Their relationship, characterized by artistic collaboration and tumult, began when Rivera was commissioned to create a mural at Kahlo’s high school, where she first became enamored with his work. The couple traveled extensively for Rivera’s commissions, residing in cities such as San Francisco, New York, and Detroit.

Their time in New York City was marked by controversy when Rivera included a portrait of communist leader Vladimir Lenin in a mural commissioned by Nelson Rockefeller, leading to its destruction. Following this incident, the couple returned to Mexico, settling in San Angel. Despite their shared artistic pursuits, their marriage faced numerous challenges, including Rivera’s infidelities, notably an affair with Kahlo’s sister, Cristina, which prompted Kahlo to cut her hair short in a symbolic act of defiance.

Kahlo’s desire for motherhood led to heartbreak after suffering a miscarriage in 1934. Although the couple experienced separations, they supported exiled Soviet communist Leon Trotsky in 1937, during which time Kahlo reportedly had a brief affair with him. Kahlo and Rivera divorced in 1939 but remarried the following year, continuing to lead largely separate lives.

Artistic Career

Though Kahlo did not identify as a surrealist, she became acquainted with key figures of the movement, including André Breton, in 1938. That year, she held a successful exhibition in New York City, selling nearly half of the 25 paintings displayed. Her artistic acclaim continued to grow, leading to commissions, including one from influential magazine editor Clare Boothe Luce.

In 1939, Kahlo spent time in Paris, where she exhibited her work and developed relationships with prominent artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Pablo Picasso. Despite personal struggles, including the loss of her father in 1941 and ongoing health issues, Kahlo’s artistic output flourished. In 1953, she celebrated her first solo exhibition in Mexico, making a remarkable entrance by ambulance to join attendees from her hospital bed.

Kahlo’s life and work experienced a renaissance during the feminist movement of the 1970s, as she became recognized as a symbol of female creativity.

Frida Kahlo’s Most Famous Paintings

Kahlo’s body of work largely consists of self-portraits, many of which explore themes of identity and pain. Notable works include:

• “Frieda and Diego Rivera” (1931): This painting, displayed at the San Francisco Society of Women Artists exhibition, depicts Kahlo holding Rivera’s hand, symbolizing the complexities of their relationship. It is now housed in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
• “Henry Ford Hospital” (1932): Incorporating surreal elements, this painting portrays a naked Kahlo in a hospital bed surrounded by symbolic items, reflecting her experience of miscarriage.
• “The Suicide of Dorothy Hale” (1939): This poignant work depicts the tragic suicide of actress Dorothy Hale, capturing the depth of grief rather than presenting a traditional portrait.
• “The Two Fridas” (1939): This iconic painting features two versions of Kahlo, each with exposed hearts, symbolizing her dual identities of “loved” and “unloved.”
• “The Broken Column” (1944): A striking representation of her physical pain, this painting depicts a near-nude Kahlo revealing a shattered spine, a reflection of her ongoing health struggles.

Frida Kahlo’s Death

Kahlo passed away on July 13, 1954, shortly after her 47th birthday, at her cherished Blue House. While her death was officially attributed to a pulmonary embolism, speculation regarding suicide also arose, particularly as her health deteriorated in the years leading up to her death. Kahlo faced significant medical challenges, including the amputation of her right leg in 1953 due to gangrene.

Despite her struggles, she remained politically active, participating in protests against the U.S.-backed overthrow of Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz just days before her death.

Frida Kahlo in Film and Legacy

Kahlo’s life was depicted in the 2002 film Frida, starring Salma Hayek as the artist and Alfred Molina as Rivera. The film, directed by Julie Taymor, received six Academy Award nominations, winning for Best Makeup and Original Score.

The Blue House, Kahlo’s family home, was transformed into a museum in 1958. The Museo Frida Kahlo showcases her personal belongings, artworks, and significant pieces like Viva la Vida (1954) and Portrait of my Father Wilhelm Kahlo (1952).

Hayden Herrera’s 1983 biography, Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo, played a crucial role in renewing interest in Kahlo’s life and work, detailing her childhood, artistic journey, political activism, and tumultuous marriage to Rivera.