What Lies Behind the Two Fridas by Frida Kahlo?
The story of one of the few double self-portraits in the history of art
Frida Kahlo is a major — indeed emblematic — figure in 20th-century art. And of art in general. Everyone knows and recognizes her, particularly through her many self-portraits, which are always very characteristic. With her unibrow, flowers in her hair, and strong themes explored and represented, Frida Kahlo takes us into her world, as sunny as it is tortured. Our capitalist society has even been quick to turn her into a feminist icon, selling T-shirts and mugs bearing her image (and as a communist, it’s easy to guess that she wouldn’t have appreciated the way her image is used).
Today, I’d like to talk to you about one of his works that I particularly like, The Two Fridas. This painting is one of a long series of self-portraits by the artist. And it’s always interesting to talk about an artist’s career through their self-portraits, as it helps us to understand their development as an artist and as a human being. I’ll have to look into the question of self-portraits one of these days. So, if I want to talk to you about this painting today, it’s not just because I love it but above all, because it’s a double self-portrait, and there aren’t many of those in the history of art.
