Frida Kahlo’s life of sacrifice, pain, and misery expressed through her portraits

Through her trials of marital entrapment, emotional repression, and creative belittlement, Frida Kahlo carved her name into art history as one of the most influential Mexican painters. From her roots in Mexico City, the brilliant artist has used her talent to express her experiences of endless turmoil through a vivid and distinguishable style.

Of Frida’s nearly 200 pieces, her surreal self-portraits are noted most for depicting the harrowing pain, anguish, and passion she faced. Her implementation of rich colors, detailed settings, and complex themes emanate a raw and personal feeling in every work. Kahlo’s art primarily concentrates on life experience, as shown through vivid imagery illustrating her physical and mental torment.

The artist lived a life of much misery, befallen with polio as a child and nearly dying in a bus accident in her adolescence. This would result in several injuries and 30 operations in her lifetime. The damage to her body was immense, but the creative drive that would follow in her recovery paved the way for a collection of iconic works.

One of which would exemplify the devastation to her body from the bus accident. As seen in “The Broken Column,” Kahlo is depicted nearly bare with a medical brace, ridden with nails in her skin, and presented with a fragmented decorative column in place of her spine. Her face wears a tearful expression from the tragedy that afflicted her figure.

Kahlo also struggled with a turbulent marriage between her and painter Diego Rivera. Wedded to an artist of greater recognition, Frida was viewed in her husband’s shadow and never garnered the respect her art deserved. The 24-year-long relationship was full of fights, affairs on both ends, and divorce, only for them to remarry a year later.

As portrayed by 1931’s wedding portrait “Frida and Diego Rivera,” Kahlo records significant portraiture where she is placed on her husband’s left to indicate her lesser moral status as a woman. Rivera appears colossal compared to the submissive and tinier Frida as he turns away dismissively. He clutches a palette and brushes symbolic of his higher acclamation while Frida limits her role to his partner. This theme is emphasized by the light grasp of Diego’s hand, as Frida asserts her position while remaining distant. 

From an outside perspective, the piece seems like nothing more than a portrait of romance. However, Frida would later elaborate in 1943’s “Diego on my mind” on their intricate relationship. As Rivera’s image is imprinted on her forehead, she notes how Diego not only takes up her mind but is a part of her. Additionally, the strands of a traditional Mexican headpiece entrap her in a web, depicting herself in an all-consuming romance.

Despite this, she would then remark that all she wanted was to be his favorite companion. Melancholic in all its notion, it represents her life well -sorrowful and unfair, yet full of integrity. Unfortunately, after her health began to decline and her depression grew wildly, she would later die of a pulmonary embolism at 47, marking the resolution to a life of misery. However, no autopsy was performed which led many to suspect she passed of suicide.

Today, the artist is praised for more than her talent, but admirable tolerance after years of suffering. Her name is echoed throughout the country of Mexico and stands as a cultural behemoth in the art  world. Although Frida Kahlo’s life held much grief, her legacy will continue for generations as one of the most treasured artists.

Written by Stacey Martinez | Graphic Designed by Stacey Martinez

Published October 4, 2022 | ePathfinder | Feature