Frida Kahlo Not My Dreams Lesson 20

 


Frida Self-portrait 1948
1907-1954
  

Frida Kahlo was a Mexican artist best known for her self-portraits. Her paintings are strongly influenced by Mexican folk culture, use of bright colors and dramatic symbolism.  At times she has been categorized as a Surrealist painter, (an artist that uses dreams as art references), however she disagreed, she said: 


" I paint my own reality.  The only thing I know is that I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration."




                                                             The Broken Column 1944


                                                     The Persistence of Memory - Salvador Dali

                                       Salvador Dali 1904-1989 Catalonia Spain Surrealist Painter)

                                        Surrealism 1920's-1950's (France, Belgium 1924 Surrealist Manifesto

                                        Andre Breton


Frida often painted portraits of herself.  Especially while she was bedridden, she was her only model to inspire her work.  She is often scene photographed using a mirror to capture her likeness. 


Her reality depicted her suffering as a result of the trolley accident, her inability to have children and also people and animals (pets) in her life. She created over one hundred and forty-five paintings with fifty-five being self-portraits.


Originally studying medicine.  The trolley accident changed her career path.  Her mother designed a special easel for her to use will bedridden.  An her father, a photographer and painter shared his paint box and brushes.


                                             Frida and Diego Rivera


Frida was of German decent on her father's side and Mexican decent on her mother's side.  She was proud of her Mexican heritage and often was inspired by the the flora and fauna of her homeland as well as the traditional Mexican attire and jewelry. 

                                             

                                                     My Grandparents 1936

In 1935 the Nazis passed a law called the Nuremberg Race Law not permitting interracial or mixed marriages between Jews and Germans and other mixed races. Frida created this painting as a protest and pride for her heritage. 




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