“The Two Fridas” by Frida Kahlo: A Powerful Self-Portrait
Hey, folks! Welcome to my blog where I share my thoughts and opinions on random topics and that's what a personal blog should be. Frida Kahlo the Mexican painter has always to me been an enigmatic person, an alluring mystery, an unsatiated genius. Today, I want to talk about one of my favorite paintings by one of my favorite enigmatic genius artists: The Two Fridas by Frida Kahlo.
Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter who is widely known for her self-portraits that deeply express her personal journey her identity, her emotions, and her experiences. She was also a feminist icon and a political activist who challenged the norms of her society. She had a tumultuous relationship with another famous Mexican artist, Diego Rivera, whom she married twice and divorced once.
‘The Two Fridas’ is a painting that Kahlo made in 1939, shortly after her divorce from Rivera. It is a double self-portrait that shows two versions of herself sitting side by side, holding hands. One Frida is wearing a white European-style Victorian dress, while the other Frida is wearing a traditional native Mexican dress. The painting is considered one of Kahlo’s most notable works and one of the symbols of Mexican national identity.
But what does this painting mean? What is Kahlo trying to tell us through this image? There are many interpretations and analyses of this painting, but I will share with you some of the most common ones.
One interpretation is that the painting represents Kahlo’s dual heritage. Her father was a German immigrant, while her mother was a mestiza (a person of mixed European and Indian lineage). Kahlo was proud of both her cultures and often added elements of them in her paintings. The European Frida could symbolize her father’s side, while the Tehuana Frida could symbolize her mother’s side.
Another interpretation is that the painting reflects Kahlo’s feelings about her divorce from Rivera. Rivera was a famous muralist who painted large-scale works that celebrated the Mexican Revolution and the indigenous culture. He was also a notorious womanizer who had many affairs, including one with Kahlo’s sister. Kahlo loved Rivera deeply, but she also suffered from his infidelity and his domination over her life. The European Frida could represent the Frida that Rivera rejected, while the Tehuana Frida could represent the Frida that Rivera adored.
A third interpretation is that the painting depicts Kahlo’s childhood memory of an imaginary friend. Kahlo wrote in her diary that the painting was inspired by two paintings that she saw at the Louvre in Paris: The Two Sisters by Théodore Chassériau and Gabrielle d’Estrées and One of Her Sisters by an anonymous artist. Both paintings show two women sitting close together, holding hands or touching each other. Kahlo said that she imagined having a friend like that when she was lonely as a child. *Though the inspiration element is unlikely.
Regardless of the interpretation, there are some elements in the painting that are clearly symbolic and meaningful.
Both Fridas have exposed hearts that are connected by a blood vessel. The European Frida’s heart is broken and bleeding, and she holds a pair of forceps that cut off the blood vessel. The Tehuana Frida’s heart is intact and healthy, and she holds a small portrait of Rivera as a child. The blood stains the white dress of the European Frida, while the Tehuana Frida’s dress is dark and hides the blood. The background shows a stormy sky that suggests turmoil and drama.
The painting is a powerful expression of Kahlo’s inner world, where she struggles with her identity, her love, and her pain. It is also a testament to her artistic skill and vision, where she creates a unique and original style that combines realism, surrealism, and symbolism. The painting is currently housed at the Museo de Arte Moderno in Mexico City, where it attracts thousands of visitors every year.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post and learned something new about Frida Kahlo and The Two Fridas. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more posts!
*I can't share the image of the painting because it is not ethical. you can go to https://mam.inba.gob.mx/home.html website to view the beautiful creation.
