Frida Kahlo by Vanessa

Frida Kahlo by Vanessa - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

In the course of our society’s cultural history many gender roles and traditional ideals were created to set an orthodox standard of what being a male or female was. Frida Kahlo, famous female artist and political critic, was an icon used in multiple movements that ignited feminine independence and strength. Kahlo’s resilient character and artistry would be reasons why she is the historical candidate of my choice to have dinner with.
A topic I would discuss with Kahlo would be the constant ailments and surgeries she battled throughout most of her life time. At the early age of 6, Kahlo faced the first of multiple physical ailments that were to come; she was struck with polio and eventually recovered from disease with disproportionate legs. Kahlo’s contraction of polio was where her unconformity and individuality began. She would participate in sports and activities that were normally considered for boys, however young Frida Kahlo did not care and continued on her path to recovery. Kahlo’s determination to continuously seek recovery and find refuge in her paintings is an inspiring act which resonated with many people as she eventually flourished into a popular artist with enigmatic art work.
Despite the motif of medical misfortune Frida Kahlo struggled through, I would also like to discuss the artistic aspect of her life. Kahlo was an artist who “[painted her] own reality…” and implemented the painful obstacles she faced medically and martially. Most of Kahlo’s paintings are self-portraits which involve her famous prominent unibrow, colorful clothing, and stoic facial expression. These aspects convey the unique balance of femininity and masculinity Kahlo blended in her art work and style along with her facial expression which reflected the constant misfortune she faced. Kahlo would also implement political aspects into her works which reflected the passionate, patriotic support she had for her motherland, Mexico. Kahlo’s support for communist ideology, which was represented in multiple of her paintings, rooted from her desire of equality in gender and socioeconomic aspects.
Frida Kahlo was an iconic, independent, female artist that personified a walking paradox in her unorthodox ideals, actions, and style. To this day she continues to be an icon of feminine movements and independence. Kahlo’s artistry has impacted her motherland in realms beyond equality and politics and has personally inspired me to continue persuing art myself.