(essay)

Frida Kahlo is one of the world’s most renowned artists, a style icon, and a revolutionary. Born in 1907 into an intellectual family, she endured a bout of polio and a catastrophic accident that left her body broken. During her prolonged recovery, she began painting using a special easel her father made for her. Her early works were self-portraits, influenced by cubism and early Renaissance styles.

Later, Frida met Diego Rivera, who profoundly influenced her art and inspired her search for Mexican identity. She embraced traditional Mexican costumes, which became her signature style, and began creating works filled with allegories and symbols. Her canvases combined personal experiences with national culture, embodying pain, dreams and hopes.

Frida’s art was deeply personal, depicting her pain—physical injuries, miscarriages, and the unfulfilled desire for motherhood. Her paintings, such as The Henry Ford Hospital and The Two Fridas, are autobiographical narratives. Through her art, she transformed suffering into self-expression. Despite relentless physical agony, Frida remained resilient, participating in demonstrations even shortly before her death. Her life is a testament to the power of turning pain into greatness.