Who was Frida Kahlo?
Frida Kahlo was a Mexican artist. Her full name was Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón. She was born in Coyoacán, near Mexico City, in 1907.
What characterized her work?
She is known for her many portraits and self-portraits.
Besides, her work is inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. She often used symbolism in her paintings and incorporated elements of Mexican culture and folklore.
Her iconic self-portraits
Her self-portraits are known for their intense and raw emotion. These self-portraits often depict her physical and emotional pain, as well as her identity as a Mexican woman.
Feminist icon
She had a significant impact on the art world and is considered a feminist icon.
What is her influence on society?
Her work is celebrated for its powerful and personal nature, as well as its ability to challenge traditional notions of femininity and beauty.
Politics & Activism
She is also remembered for her political activism and her role in promoting Mexican culture. She continues to be an inspiration to many people around the world and her legacy is celebrated in various ways, such as through her art, her home, which is now a museum, and the various exhibitions of her work.
Her lifelong health issues
Frida Kahlo died on July 13, 1954, at the age of 47 due to complications related to her lifelong health issues. She had suffered from chronic pain and various illnesses throughout her life, including polio as a child and a serious bus accident that left her with multiple injuries.
She suffered from chronic pain, and as a result of her injuries, she also had several surgeries, as well as other health problems, such as a severely damaged right leg and a limp. She also had a spinal column injury, which caused her great pain and required her to wear a corset for most of her life.
'My child, my lover, my universe' … Kahlo and Rivera in the 1940s. Photograph: Wallace Marly/Getty Images
Her relationship with Diego Rivera
Frida Kahlo was married to the famous muralist Diego Rivera, who is considered one of the most prominent Mexican artists of the 20th century. They met in 1922 when Frida was still a student at the National Preparatory School and he was a well-established artist. They married in 1929 and divorced in 1939, but remarried one year later in 1940.
They had a tumultuous relationship, filled with infidelities and separations on both sides. Despite their problems, they remained close throughout their lives and continued to support each other's artistic careers.