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�Frida Kahlo

Understanding Art

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What is the name of this city?

Mexico City

Which one is Frida?

Frida Kahlo was born on 6th July 1907, in Mexico.
Frida’s father was Guillermo Kahlo, he was a Jewish photographer from Germany.
Her mother was Matilde Calderón y González, she was indigenous Mexican and Catholic.
Frida had pride in her Mexican roots, this was an important theme in her art.

Roots – raíces

Pride – orgullo

Indigenous - indígena

Vocabulary��Paintbrush �� Easel��Canvas �

When she was 6 years old, she had polio.
When she was 18, she was in a bus accident. She had to spend a lot of time in bed, so she started painting.

What can you see in this painting?��What do you think it means?

Frida’s paintings are famous for bold, bright colours and unique style.
Many of her paintings are self-portraits, they showing her emotion, pain, loneliness and identity.
Some of her paintings include surrealist elements, mixing real and dream images.
She used traditional Mexican symbols to celebrate her culture.

Vocabulary�Eyes�Eyebrows�Flowers�Neck�Necklace�Ears�Earrings�Lips�Moustache

Frida was a feminist icon and a symbol of strength.
She wore traditional Mexican clothing and accessories, like flower crowns and heavy jewellery.
She liked to do things differently, she did not care what people thought.

Explain these words:��Communist�Muralist�Surrealist�Equality�Social Justice

Frida was married to famous Mexican muralist Diego Rivera.
Their relationship was full of love, but he had many girlfriends, and she felt lonely.
Frida and Diego were Communists due to her belief in social justice, and her vision for equality in Mexico.
She really wanted to be a mother, but she could not have babies, which made her very sad. She showed this sadness in her paintings.

Describe this painting.

Frida had to live in the USA for Diego’s work.
She felt lonely in the USA, she belonged in Mexico and missed the culture.
During her life she was only known as the wife of Diego Rivera, not as an independent artist.
She became famous after her death in 1954. Now Diego Rivera is only known as the husband of Frida Kahlo.

What do you think it means?

Describe this painting.��What do you think it means?

Look at the different people, describe their clothes and their faces, who do you, think they are?

Class/Society: Spanish Mexican woman, Black worker, Indigenous Mexican mother, Boy, White Capitalist, Young Frida.