Frida Kahlo, known as one of Mexico’s greatest artists, was born on July 6, 1907 in Coyocoan, Mexico. She attended a famous National Preparatory School in Mexico City, where there were only thirty-five girls in 1922. There, she became well-known for her bravery and strong opinions. Kahlo also met Diego Rivera at the school, who was a popular Mexican muralist. During the same year, she was in a car accident, which caused her to stay in a hospital for several weeks. Kahlo did not have much to do at the hospital, so she took up painting as one of her hobbies and finished her first self-portrait. In 1929, she ended up getting married to Diego. However, their marriage was an unusual one, as they lived almost completely separate lives. In her final years, she was diagnosed with gangrene and passed away at her Bule house. Some guess that she may have died from suicide since she was devastated after spending so much time in the hospital, but the news reported a pulmonary embolism.
As we know, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera had a troubled marriage. They both often had affairs with others and one depiction of Kahlo’s opinion of it is called Diego and I. This painting was made after Rivera almost divorced Kahlo because of his affair with Maria Felix, a friend of Kahlo. Kahlo frequently joked about Rivera’s affairs, but this piece reflected her true feelings. Her hair is wrapped around her neck, a sign of strangulation. Rivera has a third eye, which is a representation of his mental and visual keenness. In Kahlo’s diary, she wrote about Rivera repeatedly. Once, she created a poem and wrote, “DIEGO. I am alone.” A few pages later, she stated, “My Diego. I am no longer alone. You accompany me. You put me to sleep and you revive me.”
Art has commonly been seen as only a decoration; however, it also serves as a door to the creator’s feelings and opinions. Frida Kahlo is considered one of Mexico’s most famous artists because of her connection to her culture through her work and its meanings.
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