Redesigning Reality With Frida Kahlo and Vincent Van Gogh Essay Example
Redesigning Reality With Frida Kahlo and Vincent Van Gogh Essay Example

Redesigning Reality With Frida Kahlo and Vincent Van Gogh Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (741 words)
  • Published: January 30, 2018
  • Type: Essay
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Starting her artistic career at the age of 15 after a horrific bus accident, Friday Kohl expressed her physical and emotional suffering through self-portraits. Influenced by her husband, renowned painter Diego Riviera, as well as Mexican folk art, her work was characterized by its colorful and surrealist elements (A Dictionary of Twentieth Century Art, 1998: Online). One of Kohl's most famous paintings, "Henry Ford Hospital" from 1932, depicts a real-life incident when she was pregnant and asleep in her New York apartment. Symbolism played a significant role in this piece, reflecting various events in her life. Created on a 12 x 15 inch canvas with oil paints, it shows Friday lying naked on a bed with blood around her groin, cradling her stomach in despair as she loses her baby. The red lines symbolize t

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he umbilical cord, connecting six objects within the painting: the baby itself (center), wilted flowers (below the bed), doctors' operating instruments (bottom left), a pelvic bone (bottom right), a model of a woman's womb (top left), and a snail (top right). Each of these objects holds importance in Friday's life.

The central focus of the image is the woman's unborn fetus, which is depicted in the middle of the painting as it caused the incident. The pelvic area, where she experienced most of her pain, was also the same area that had previously been injured in a bus accident when she was fifteen years old. Additionally, she portrays the tools used by the doctors during her operation. The model of the woman's womb represents the source of the problem on Friday. The flowers in chains symbolize her feelings after the surgery

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- wanting to die after losing her baby and enduring extreme pain. Lastly, the stretched-out snail signifies her slow movements and how even the slightest motion caused pain before she was taken to the hospital. She was admitted to Henry Ford Hospital in New York, where she underwent treatment. These objects are arranged in a specific order, reflecting the progression from what initially happened to the final outcome. Firstly, there was a problem with the womb which narrowed down to issues with the baby and restricted mobility. She was then taken to the hospital and underwent an operation. Afterward, she felt almost lifeless and believed she would always have problems with her pelvis bone. Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890), who is considered one of the greatest Dutch painters, achieved little recognition during his lifetime and only sold one painting. However, his work had a significant influence on modern art, particularly in the expressionist movement.

Japanese prints influenced Van Gogh to use more bright and vibrant colors instead of his usual dark and dull ones. Van Gogh, who was considered to be abnormal due to hearing voices and experiencing hallucinations, was taken into a hospital. In 1889, while in the mental hospital, he painted 'The Bedroom' which depicts his room in Arles. This oil on canvas painting showcases the basic elements of a bedroom such as a bed, chair, table, wardrobe, paintings (or posters), window, and door. Van Gogh employed techniques like 'scratching' to create an aged appearance for the symbols and carefully placed each piece of furniture to convey his personal emotions. The arrangement of objects evokes a sense of spaciousness and tranquility. With stained and

cracked floorboards, the room gives the impression of aging. The choice of painting his bedroom in Arles stems from his longing for a normal life, which he misses while being in the mental institution. This artwork demonstrates his desire to escape the hospital and return to a normal life, filled with vibrant colors that he longs for.

The text suggests that the dislike for the plain hospital look further increased his eagerness to leave. This was fueled by the desire for freedom and the absence of it in his current life. The spaciousness depicted in his painting reflects the feelings of loneliness and isolation experienced in the hospital, unable to communicate with the outside world. The painting also reflects his aging process and the likelihood of not experiencing such conditions again. Van Gogh effectively expresses himself through the use of furniture symbols in this artwork. Not only has he achieved self-expression, but he has also contributed to the evolution of modern expressionism. Both Van Gogh and Friday demonstrate a preference for vibrant colors in their paintings to convey various emotions and sentiments. They differ in their artistic approach, utilizing different symbols and techniques.

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