Frida Kahlo's work is heavily influenced by her Mexican culture, Catholic upbringing, personal life with her husband, and the tram accident she experienced. These influences are evident in both her diary and artworks, which incorporate symbolic elements. Notable examples of this symbolism can be seen in pieces such as The Broken Column and the two Kahlos.
Growing up in a Mexican heritage had a significant impact on Frida's life. When Diaz fell from power, her family faced financial challenges, leading Frida to take on various jobs to support them. However, one of the strongest influences on her was Fernando Fernando, a friend of her father who taught her the art of drawing.
On September 17th, 1925, Frida boarded a bus that later collided with a tram. This accident caused severe injuries for everyone involved, with Frida being impaled by
...a handrail that pierced through her body like a sword.
The collision resulted in torn clothes for Frida and numerous injuries including fractured collarbone and ribs, dislocated shoulder, triple fractures to the pelvis,
perforated abdomen and vagina,
eleven fractures in
her right leg,
and dislocated right foot.
The accident had
a profound impact not only on Frida but also on her family;
her mother was shocked for an entire week while
her father was overwhelmed with grief.
Throughout
her ordeal,
the only family member who stood by
her side was
her sister.
During her recovery, she found solace in the works of IL Pop. Although she was released from the hospital on October 17th, she suffered a setback after not following her doctor's orders despite still being in the process of healing for three months. It was during this time that her mother arranged a special easel
for her and her father gifted her with a box of paints. Her artwork serves as a poignant reflection of the pain she endured from the accident and offers insight into her life.
When analyzing the painting titled "Broken Column," one can interpret the brace encompassing her body as symbolizing how her shattered spine holds her together. The column within herself represents both a physical representation of her broken spine and directs attention towards her face. The background features sharp, harsh, and pointed edges surrounding the woman, creating contrast with the smoothness of their hair and skin.
The shapes depicted in the painting convey feelings of solitude, value, and strength. Throughout the artwork, there is notable variation in texture; while hair, skin, and fabric appear smooth to touch, terrain possesses roughness reminiscent of rugged landscapes. The inclusion of nail or pin details suggests a sharp metallic texture is present.
Overall, there is an evident roughness to the texture portrayed by Ionic columns – they crumble and appear broken. Additionally,the sky carries a somber appearance that can be interpreted as representative of depression.
According to Frida Kahlo herself, most of her paintings serve as reflections of personal emotions and mental states she experienced at different points in time.In her artwork, Kahlo expresses her personal feelings, sensations, states of mind, and reactions to life. She emphasizes that her themes are a reflection of herself. To enhance the subjective nature of her work, Kahlo incorporates various symbols that hold personal significance for her. For instance, the broken column, brace, and white sheet symbolize her experiences in the hospital and spinal injury. These symbols contribute to the subjective aspect of her art. Additionally,
nails and tears represent Kahlo's Catholic upbringing and connection to Christ's crucifixion. In Figure 2 of her painting, Kahlo's cultural heritage becomes more prominent as she portrays herself wearing traditional Mexican clothing on one side while donning a European-inspired white dress on another side. Despite these cultural influences, Kahlo still integrates personal symbols into her artwork. The dark black sky background with its dark hues and partially gray clouds continues to convey a sense of depression. Both hearts depicted in the artwork represent different aspects of Kahlo's identity - the strong left heart symbolizes her European transformation while the broken right heart represents the negative emotional effects this change has had on her. The theme conveyed in Carol's artwork is emphasized by its predominantly dark colors; however, there is also symbolism in the presence of a white traditional wedding dress representing both Kahlo's Catholic upbringing and personal suffering.The symbols utilized in her artwork, encompassing facial characteristics, attire, and hairstyle, demonstrate her Mexican heritage. These symbols, alongside her upbringing, hold great significance in both her artworks and personal existence, serving as a means of introspection or personal narrative. Furthermore, the tram accident had a profound impact on Carol's life, confining her to bed and preventing her from leading a normal life. In conjunction with her tumultuous relationship with husband Diego, these experiences have served as inspiration for Carol to incorporate symbols from her religion and personal journey into her artistic creations. Upon analyzing the artworks and delving into Carol's life story, it becomes apparent that symbolism intricately weaves together with Mexican culture throughout.
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