Frida Kahlo
Me and My Parrot
1941
1941
The rigidity of Me and My Parrot is broken by details within the work. The parrots bring depth, the intricate detailing of their feathers providing a subtle contrast to the smooth simplicity of Frida's appearance. The ruffled, protective parrots enhance the calm simplicity of Kahlo.
Frida drew many self-portraits with her pets and this is one of those and she included her parrots in this painting.
Self-Portrait with Monkey and Parrot
1942
Oil on Masonite Board
1942
Oil on Masonite Board
It is one of fifty-five self-portraits she produced in her lifetime, and one of many self-portraits to feature Kahlo with her pet monkeys.
Animals and other elements of nature, such as the leafy background in this piece, appear often in her works, reflecting a strong connection to nature. The flat perspective and bright colors seen in this piece are also elements of her distinctive style. Kahlo's lack of formal art training further supports this classification. Some of her works have also been described as surrealist. She, however, unequivocally rejected this label, protesting that she simply painted her own reality.
Her stylistic choices can be attributed to the inspiration Kahlo drew from traditional Mexican and indigenous Aztec culture. Being part indigenous herself, she strove to represent this culture openly and truthfully. She wrote in a letter in 1952 that she wished to be worthy, with her paintings, of the people to whom she belonged. Kahlo decried what she called bourgeois art, believing her more traditional art to be more honest.
Additionally, she typically wore traditional clothing, and therefore depicted herself in the same clothing in her self-portraits, which can be seen in this piece.
Kahlo also used Aztec symbolism of animals extensively in her art. The frequent appearance of the monkey in her work suggests that she may have chosen it as her companion animal. She often depicts them as gentle and protective. The parrot, another favorite of hers which appears in this piece may also be a reference to her inability to have children after being injured in a traffic accident, as childless women were sometimes called parrots in Mexican popular culture.
Animals and other elements of nature, such as the leafy background in this piece, appear often in her works, reflecting a strong connection to nature. The flat perspective and bright colors seen in this piece are also elements of her distinctive style. Kahlo's lack of formal art training further supports this classification. Some of her works have also been described as surrealist. She, however, unequivocally rejected this label, protesting that she simply painted her own reality.
Her stylistic choices can be attributed to the inspiration Kahlo drew from traditional Mexican and indigenous Aztec culture. Being part indigenous herself, she strove to represent this culture openly and truthfully. She wrote in a letter in 1952 that she wished to be worthy, with her paintings, of the people to whom she belonged. Kahlo decried what she called bourgeois art, believing her more traditional art to be more honest.
Additionally, she typically wore traditional clothing, and therefore depicted herself in the same clothing in her self-portraits, which can be seen in this piece.
Kahlo also used Aztec symbolism of animals extensively in her art. The frequent appearance of the monkey in her work suggests that she may have chosen it as her companion animal. She often depicts them as gentle and protective. The parrot, another favorite of hers which appears in this piece may also be a reference to her inability to have children after being injured in a traffic accident, as childless women were sometimes called parrots in Mexican popular culture.
Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird
1940
1940
Frida Kahlo put so many symbolic creatures in this painting. She was not painting a realistic scene but using these symbolic elements to express her feelings. A bird often symbolizes freedom and life. Especially a hummingbird which is colorful and always hovering above flowers. But in this painting, the hummingbird is black and lifeless. This might be a symbol of Frida herself. Frida spent most of her life in physical pain after the bus accident happened when she was eighteen. After that, she endured about thirty-five operations to fix her body. This is a painting about her suffering.