Copyright, 1987, Art Outreach, an extension of the Education Department and School of Art,
Springfield Art Association of Edwards Place, and Illinois non-profit organization
# 54 Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera
Images
#1 - “Self-portrait with Monkeys”
#2 - “The Frame”
#3 - “Frida Y Diego Rivera”
#4 - “Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird”
#5 - “Self-Portrait as a Tehuane”
#6 - “Flower Day”
#7 - “Baile En Tehuantepec”
#8 - “Flower Seller”
Artists
Kahlo
Kahlo
Kahlo
Kahlo
Kahlo
Rivera
Rivera
Rivera
Introduction to Frida Kahlo
Living in America today, one cannot miss the popular salsa rhythms and Latin dance, the spicy foods,
the books and movies that blend South American surrealism with popular culture. Just as Black
Americans fought to form their identities in America, Latino Americans face the same challenge. But
long before the “Latin Explosion” was sweeping through the United States, one Mexican woman was
painting her reality. Because of her struggle, her beliefs, and her passion, Frida Kahlo would become
a cult figure, not only in Mexico but throughout the world.
To understand her art, one must understand Frida Kahlo. Frida was born on July 6, 1907 in
Coyoaca’n, Mexico. Frida came from a very diverse background. Her mother was a devout Catholic
mestizo (Indian and Spanish) and her father was a German Jew who immigrated to Mexico at the age
of 19. In 1910, the Mexican Revolution erupted. Frida would later claim her birthday as 1910, not to
maker herself younger, but to maker herself a child of the revolution. Frida was the third of four
daughters. Although she was never very close to her mother, Frida had a very special relationship
with her father, a photographer, who was the first person to ignite his daughter’s interest in art.
Frida was a very intelligent girl, and in 1922, she was sent to La Prepatoria (The National Prepatory
School of Mexico) to become a doctor. On September 17, 1925, on the way home from La
Prepotoria, a bus collided with the trolley car she was riding. A metal pole broke lose and impaled
Frida through the pelvis, causing injuries so severe that some doctors wanted to leave her as dead.
Aside from the massive amounts of bleeding, Frida’s pelvic bone, spinal column, and collar bone
were all broken, several ribs were cracked, her right foot was crushed and her right leg was broken in
eleven places. Frida spent more that a year in the hospital enduring operation after operation. It was
in the hospital that Frida began to paint seriously. Because of the accident, Frida could no longer
become a doctor so she looked towards an artistic career. Frida took her first painting to the famous
muralist Diego Rivera. Frida and Diego fell in love and were soon married. Their relationship was
not with out flaws; the couple separated in 1939, only to remarry the following year. During their
lives, both Diego and Frida had trouble being fully accepted in the United States due to certain
political affiliations. Some work was even destroyed because of its content. Frida remained plagued
# 54 Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, 1
by her illnesses, as well as an inability to have children. All of these sorrows can be seen in Frida’s
art. Frida Kahlo died on July 13, 1954. Diego Rivera died three years later.
One must not get the wrong idea about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Although their lives saw
much pain, they still celebrated the beauty of living. Diego’s daughter Guadalupe Rivera, thinking
back on her loving stepmother, said that she wished people could see the other side of Frida, “the
joyous”one who knew “how to get the most out of life.” This Art Outreach portfolio is designed as
Frida would have appreciated. It is a celebration to the senses, a fiesta for the mind. The history and
heritage of Mexico combined with the fantasy and whim of a world we don’t know. This portfolio
will take you to a world of beauty and sorrow, of pain and fantasy, of nationalism and mythology.
From the soil of Mexico to the air of an unknown universe: welcome to the art of Frida Kahlo and
Diego Rivera.
#1 “Self-Portrait with Monkeys” by Kahlo, 1943
Frida lived in Coyoaca’n, a historic suburb of Mexico City. Her house was called the Casa Azul (Blue
House). At the Casa Azul, Frida kept a pack of small Mexican dogs, a black cat, several different
parrots, a fawn named Granizo, and the monkey painted in this picture. The monkey’s name is
Fulang Chang.
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Why do you think she may have chosen a monkey as a subject for this work?
Frida Kahlo led an extremely lonely life. Although she had many friends and lovers,
she constantly felt an emptiness inside herself. Because of the loneliness caused by
the lack of attention from her husband or her inability to bear children, Frida
surrounded herself with pets.
Notice in this self-portrait, Frida painted herself in a stationary position. Are the
monkeys painted in a stationary position?
The monkeys were painted climbing and moving. The beautiful flower was painted
so that it too looks as it was moving. The movement of the plants and animals
forms a strong contrast against the motionless woman. This contrast is symbolic of
Frida’s emotions. Her outer appearance is calm and static, but inside she is filled
with extreme passion, anger, and pain, as symbolized by the monkeys and plants.
Texture is a very important aspect of this painting. What is texture and how is it
represented in this painting?
This texture is visual, meaning you perceive how the object would feel through your
eyes. In this picture, how many different textures can you find? The monkey,
Frida’s skin, the cloth shirt, the rope necklace, the leaves all have visual texture.
Shading and line are used to make the monkeys fur seem realistic.
#2 “The Frame” by Kahlo, 1938
In 1939, surrealist writer Andre Breton gathered together different artists and artifacts to give Paris a
taste of Mexico. The Mexique Exhibition was held at the Pierre Colle Gallery. At the opening, Frida
received congratulations from many famous artists: Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, and Joan
Miro. Kahlo and Picasso became friends during her time in France. He gave her a pair of earrings,
which she painted in two of her later portraits. The Frame was purchased by the Louvre Museum in
Paris. Unlike most of Frida’s work, which was oil on masonite, “The Frame” was painted on the
back side of a piece of glass.
# 54 Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, 2
France was charmed by the Madame Rivera herself as they were with her extraordinary portraits.
Her traditional hairstyles, bright Tehuana dress, and big Indian jewelry turned heads throughout
Paris. Frida Kahlo was an individual her entire life. At one time a person asked her about what
people were thinking about her. Frida replied, “I don’t care. I like myself the way I am.”
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Color is the most important element of this painting? How are they used in the
work?
Colors frame Kahlo in the center and draw the eye immediately to her. The color
yellow forms a triangle in the lower portion of the composition and points the eye
directly to the face of Kahlo.
Why do you think that this is called “The Frame”?
We know Frida was proud of her Mexican heritage. What objects remind you of
something Mexican? Why?
The tropical birds? Colorful flowers? Frida’s hair? Aztec pyramids may have
influenced the triangular shapes in the upper corners.
#3 “Frida Y Diego Rivera” by Kahlo, 1931
This painting was painted two years after the couple was married. This is one of Frida’s earlier
portraits. It has less detail and color than her later master pieces. Frida’s clothes in this picture are
typical of what she wore in real life.
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Why did Frida wear these clothes?
Her husband Diego loved when Frida wore the traditional Tehuana dress. But there
was another reason Frida wore these clothes. The full skirts concealed the braces
and casts that her body required from time to time throughout her life. At the age
of six Frida’s legs were forever deformed by polio. The street car accident further
deformed her body.
In the corner of the picture Frida wrote a message. What is the national language of
Mexico?
(Spanish) Translation: “Here you see us, me Frida Kahlo, with my beloved
husband Diego Rivera. I painted these portraits in the beautiful city of San
Francisco, California for our friend Mr. Albert Buder, and it was in the month of
April of the year 1931.”
Looking at the picture, what is Diego’s job?
#4 “Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird”, by Kahlo,
1940
This portrait of Frida is probably the most typical example of her overall style. There is very strong
symbolism in this painting. Symbolism is where an object is one thing on the surface, but actually
represents another thing or idea. The necklace of thorns is symbolic of Frida’s pain,
suffering, and sacrifice. From old Mexican mythology, the dead hummingbird is supposed to bring
good luck in love. The bottom half of the painting is dark and ominous, like the way Frida felt her
life was at the time this was painted. That contrasts the lighter, more pleasant top, the way Frida
wished her life could be.
Later in her career, Frida became know as a surrealist. Surrealism was a movement that bridged
realistic aspects style with aspects of dreams and a fantasy world. She, herself, did not claim to be a
# 54 Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, 3
surrealist. Frida said that she, “painted her own realities.” Look at the two flowers in the top right
and left corners. Are these really flowers or exotic insects. This is an example of surrealism.
This portrait is a great example of pattern. A pattern is when an items is repeated regularly.
Where are there patterns in this picture? (Shapes in leaves, Twigs in necklace, Lines in hairband,
Point on leaves)
#5 - “Self-Portrait as a Tehuana” by Kahlo, 1943
This painting has two names. The first title is “Self-portrait as a Tehuana.” Tehuana is a region of
Mexico. Frida is wearing what is like a petticoat on her head. The story is that a long time ago, a
trunk washed up on the shore of Tehuana, Mexico. The trunk had been from a European sip, so
when it was opened, the simple Mexican people didn’t understand the purpose of the frilly lace
petticoat. The people assumed that it was to be worn as a headdress, as from then on, made lace
headdresses to wear on special occasions.
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Can you guess what the second name of the painting is?
The second title “Diego on My Mind,” is self-explanatory. Diego was her husband.
You can see what Frida is dreaming or thinking about. This is another surreal
idea.
Notice the cracking lines on the surface of the painting. What do you think they
represent or symbolize?
Introduction to Diego Rivera
To understand Frida Kahlo, one must also examine the art and life of her friend, mentor, and
husband Diego Rivera. Diego was born in December of 1886 in Guanajuato, Mexico. His father
had emigrated from Russia and his mother was of mixed Mexican blood. Diego had a twin brother
and a younger sister. The twin brother died when the brothers were 18 months old. Because of job
problems, the Rivera family moved to Mexico City. At the age of 8, Diego began school at
Carpenter Catholic College. His drawing and painting skills developed and he soon transferred to
San Carlos Academy of Art.
In school, the students studied European art, which was probably why Diego chose to move there in
1907. In Spain, Diego studied the works of El Greco, Goya, and Velazques. Diego also became
familiar with the new Spanish artists Pablo Picaso, Julio Gonzales, and Juan Gris, who were all living
in Paris. So Diego then moved to France. There Diego was influenced by the new style Cubism. In
Europe, he absorbed the new styles of modern art. He became known throughout artist circles of
Europe, yet he was still little known in Mexico.
In the spring of 1920, news of social change in Mexico hit Europe. The following year Diego
returned to his homeland Mexico. When Diego returned to Mexico, he found that everywhere there
was a potential painting: at the markets, in the crowds, at the festivals. The Mexican Revolution had
brought great social change. Diego felt that, like government, art should also be for the masses, not
just a select few.
# 54 Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, 4
#6 - “Flower Day” by Rivera, 1925
Like Frida, Diego too was very proud of his Mexican heritage. His subjects in this painting are very
Mexican. Although he spent many years in Europe, there is nothing European about this picture.
He gave his people features that are very indigenous. Latin American people, like most groups of
people, don’t have one specific look. Skin, eyes, hair, and body shape have a wide range of
possibilities.
The most striking principal of design in “Flower Day” is symmetry. Symmetry is when something is
balanced on both sides. You could fold this painting in half and each side would look almost the
same. What are some examples of symmetrical things? (Faces, bodies, butterflies, heart shapes)
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These people have the stereotypical Indian traits. What are these traits?
Their eyes are almost black, their hair is black, their skin is a deep reddish brown.
Look at their foreheads and noses; they are drawn extremely wide. He also includes
details like the primitive way of carrying the flowers and baby, the bare feet, and the
long braids. These people are beautiful. You can see the love Diego feels for these
people in the way he paints. The lines are drawn very soft and round. The colors
are very rich and warm. This gives one the sense of closeness to these people.
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In this painting, there is also circular composition. What elements make the
composition circular?
This means the movement of your eyes goes in a circle, first from the calla lilies,
then to the white shirt, and then to the white shawl. What other three items form a
triangle or circle motion in the painting? (The three heads)
The title is “Flower Day”; what do you think that means? Is it a market place? Is it a
celebration? Is the woman telling a story?
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#7 - “Baile En Tehuantepec” by Rivera, 1935
Baile means dance. Tehuantepec is a region in Mexico. The title means Dance at Tehuantepec. The
art that Diego Rivera was most well known for was his murals. Unfortunately, there is not a print of
one of his murals in this portfolio. A mural is a huge painting that is done directly on the surface of a
wall rather than on canvas. Although Rivera is best known for his murals, he also did many smaller
paintings. In paintings, he used the vibrant colors of his country. His subjects were the everyday
people doing everyday things, and he made them beautiful.
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How does this painting differ from the last print “Flower Day”?
This painting is a watercolor and charcoal, instead of oil. The color in this picture
is much lighter. The charcoal lines are very light and undefined. This gives the
painting its fresh airiness. Diego did not use this style often
Dancing is a big part of Latin culture. What gives the feeling of movement in this
picture?
Diagonal lines (slope) especially give the feel of movement. Look at the man’s
legs and the woman’s arms. You can see that they are dancing.
Horizontal lines (side to side) make something stationary and solid, like the dirt
dance floor.
Vertical lines (up and down) give the allusion of height. Where are there vertical
lines in the picture? (House, Trees, Sitting people)
# 54 Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, 5
#8 “Flower Seller” by Rivera, 1926
A flower seller is a common person in Mexico. Diego might have come across people like this often.
Flowers are very important in Mexican culture in art, clothes, at fiestas and celebrations, or just as a
beautiful center piece of a table. Diego and Frida both loved to entertain guests. September 16th is
Independence Day of Mexico. That’s like our 4th of July. Being so involved in the nationality of
their country, Frida and Diego threw their greatest parties or “fiestas”on this day. On September
16th some of the most important people in the country would sit at Diego and Frida’s table and
enjoy platters of classic Mexican food like chiles in walnut sauce, snapper soup, and corn pudding
with chiles in cream sauce. Of course, these dishes were centered around a beautiful arrangement of
red and white flowers with green stems, the colors of the Mexican flag.
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What do you notice first? Which object is closet to you?
The woman is in the middle. The way distance appears is called perspective. In this
picture, our perspective is very close to the flowers. The picture is only twodimensional. It has length and width, but no depth. It is flat. It appears to be
three-dimensional, to have depth, because of perspective. Perspective is created
using size and intensity. If something is supposed to be close, it is painted larger. If
something appears to be far away, what size is it? (smaller)
Bibliography
Frida Kahlo
1. The Diary of Frida Kahlo: an intimate self-portrait, 759.972, K121f, 1995
2. Frida Kahlo, video, 759.972, K121fr
3. Herrera, Hayden. Frida: a biography of Frida Kahlo, 759.972, K121h, 1983
4. Herrera, Hayden. Frida Kahlo: the paintings, 759.972, K121, H434, F913, 1991
Diego Rivera
1. Brenner, Leah. An Artist Grows Up in Mexico: scenes from the boyhood of Diego
813.4, B751a, 1987
Rivera,
2. Braun, Barbara. A weekend with Diego Rivera, JUV., 759.972, R524b
3. Wolfe, Bertram D., Diego Rivera, 759.972, R524w, 1939
4. Wolfe, Bertram D., Fabulous Life of Diego Rivera, 759.972, R524w, 1963
This portfolio was researched and written by Lauren Chanel Victor. Additional information may be
found at the Michael Victor II Art Library.
# 54 Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, 6
If you have the time, I ercommed that you try this recipe of Frida’s. It was one of her favorite meals
that she loved to prepare for Diego and what other guests might be stopping by for one of Frida’s
Fiestas.
Corn Pudding and Chiles in Cream
From Frida’s Fiesta
Corn Pudding
12 tablespoons butter, 1 cup sugar, 7-8 cups corn kernels (few days old), 1/2 cup milk, 5 tablespoons
flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 5 eggs (separated)
Cream butter and sugar. Puree corn with milk. Sift flour with baking soda and salt. Beat egg yolks
with flour until well mixed. Thoroghly combine butter, corn and egg mixtures. Beat egg whites until
stiff and gently fold into corn mixture. In a buttered baking dish, bake in pre-heated oven at 350 F
for 45 to 50 minutes, until top is golden and a toothpick comes out clean
Chiles in Cream
4 tablespoons butter, 1 large onion (thinly sliced), 8 pablano chiles (roasted, peeled, seeded, cut in
strips, 2 cups cream, salt and pepper
Heat butter in skillet and saute onion until translucent. Add chile strips and saute a minute. Stir in
cream. Salt and pepper to taste. Heat through. Serve over corn pudding.
# 54 Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, 7