Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), the renowned Mexican artist, is widely recognized for her unique and captivating artworks that delve into themes of identity, pain, and self-expression.
While Kahlo’s art is often associated with Surrealism, a movement that emerged in Europe during the early 20th century, it is crucial to examine the nuances of her work to determine her specific artistic categorization. By exploring Kahlo’s life, artistic style, and influences, we can better understand whether she can be considered a Surrealist artist and the extent of her connection to this influential art movement.
Table of Contents
- What Type of Artist was Frida Kahlo?
- Who Was the Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)?
- Was Frida Kahlo a Surrealist Artist?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Questions
What Type of Artist was Frida Kahlo?
Frida Kahlo is one of Mexico’s premier artists. But yet there is always confusion as to exactly what type of artist she was.
Frida Kahlo had a life that was filled with pain and suffering. She painted her pain and suffering on canvas. Andre Breton, head of the Surrealism movement, mistakenly labeled Friday Kahlo as a Surrealism Artist. Frida Kahlo never considered her art to be Surrealism Art.
Who Was the Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)?
To understand what kind of artist Frida Kahlo was, you first need to understand who she was. The nature of her art is very personal.
Frida Kahlo suffered from polio at a young age and was in a terrible bus accident when she was 18 years old. This accident left her in a lot of pain.
Kahlo married the famous Mexican artist mural artist Diego Riveria. Frida is well known for her self-portraits that depict pain and suffering. Her paintings are filled with passion and symbolism. She used bright, bold, vibrant colors. Her art is essentially a personal statement of her life.
To find out more about Frida Kahlo, you can read our blog on Who Was the Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)? by clicking here.
Was Frida Kahlo a Surrealist Artist?
One of the major questions that most people ask is if Frida Kahlo was a Surrealist artist? The definition of a surrealist artist is:
“a style of art and literature developed principally in the 20th century, stressing the subconscious or nonrational significance of imagery arrived at by automatism or the exploitation of chance effects, unexpected juxtapositions, etc.”
dictionary.com
Surrealism art was a cultural movement that developed in Europe after World War 1. It was influenced mainly by the art movement of Dada or Dadaism. Dadaism was an avant-garde movement in the early 20th Century and was in reaction to World War I. The Dada artist rejected logic, reason, and the aestheticism of the modern capitalist society. It was an art movement that was anti-bourgeois in nature.
In Surrealism art, the artist will paint unnerving, illogical scenes, including strange creatures from everyday objects or animals. The idea was to allow the unconscious or dreams to express themselves through art.
Andre Breton and Frida Kahlo
The leader of the Surrealism art movement was the French writer and poet Andre’ Breton. Andre’ Breton wrote the first Surrealist Manifesto where he defined Surrealism as “pure psychic automatism.”
In 1938 Andre’ Breton arrived in Mexico. The purpose of his trip was to find surrealism in Mexico and to meet with Leon Troksy the Soviet revolutionary and Marxist theorist. At the time Troksy and his wife were living in Mexico City.
In meeting Trotsky, Andre’ Breton would have of course, also met and known about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. He saw Frida’s unfinished painting “What the Water Gave Me, ” a self-portrait of how Frida Kahlo saw her life and suffering.
Breton immediately labeled Frida’s art as part of the Surrealism art movement. He wrote an essay about her called “a strip of silk around a pump.” He also arranges for Frida to show her work in a solo exhibition in New York City and also a few other minor exhibitions.
Frida Kahlo Was Mistakenly Labeled a Surrealism Artist
It was Andre’ Breton who labeled her work as Surrealism art. Many, including Frida herself, consider this label of Surrealism for her work to be a mistake. Frida Kahlo said:
“… they thought I was surrealist, but I was not. I never painted my dreams, I only painted my own reality.”
Frida Kahlo
This is where the great confusion comes, and so many are asking what kind or type of painter is Frida Kahlo. Is Frida Kahlo a Surrealist painter? Many, even Andre’ Breton, the head of the Surrealism movement, considered Frida Kahlo a Surrealist painter though Frida Kahlo did not consider herself or her paintings a part of the Surrealism movement or ideology.
The reason why Frida did not call her work as Surrealism is that she felt she was painting her own pain and reality. The essence of this is that she painted for herself – as she painted her pain and suffering – she was painting for us her own reality. It was her life story she was painting on canvas. It is this life story that continues to draw us to her art and her as an artist. We experience her life through her works of art.
In speaking of Surrealism and her painting, Frida Kahlo went on to say:
“Really, I do not know whether my paintings are surrealist or not, but I do know that they are the frankest expression of myself.”
Frida Kahlo
Is Frida Kahlo a Surrealist Or A Realist?
Is Frida Kahlo’s art Surrealism, or is the art realist? Even Andre’ Breton, head of the Surrealism movement, embraced her as part of the movement through Frida never considered herself a Surrealist.
This is why many will label her work as Mexican Surrealism and they will put her work together with other Mexican Artists that were considered to do some Surrealism work as her husband, Diego Rivera or Gunther Gerzso.
In 1945, Don Jose Domingo Lavin asked Frida to read a book by Sigmund Freud called Moses and Monotheism. In this final book that Freud wrote, Freud is re-writing or re-telling the biblical story of Moses. Freud’s psychoanalysis work was based on Surrealism.
Frida did paint a painting called Moses that received a 2nd place prize in the Palacio de Bellas Artes. This work was based on Freud’s work and the story of Moses. Frida painted her understanding of Freud’s Surrealism book.
In keeping true to what Frida Kahlo, the artist herself, has said, and to respect her and her work, we do not label her work as Surrealism. Instead, we say her work is a realist as it is based on the reality of her own life, though many art galleries and others will label her work as Surrealism.
But in any case, the beauty of her work and what makes her artwork so very powerful and important is that through her artwork, we can get a glimpse into her life, pain, and suffering.
Though the artwork style of Frida Kahlo is often labeled as Surrealism or Mexican Surrealism, Frida Kahlo never considered her work to be a work of Surrealism but instead to be her own reality. Though many label Frida Kahlo’s work as Surrealism, Frida Kahlo’s artwork can be call Realist as it is based on Frida Kahlo’s life and reality.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Frida Kahlo?
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was a Mexican artist known for her unique and introspective paintings. She is celebrated for her exploration of personal experiences, identity, and physical and emotional pain through her art.
What is Frida Kahlo famous for?
Frida Kahlo is famous for her emotionally charged self-portraits that depict her physical and psychological struggles. Her art often reflects her Mexican heritage, femininity, and the complexities of her personal life.
Did Frida Kahlo consider herself a Surrealist?
While Frida Kahlo’s art shares some elements with Surrealism, she did not consider herself a Surrealist artist. She referred to her work as her own reality and personal vision rather than conforming to a specific art movement.
What influenced Frida Kahlo’s art?
Frida Kahlo’s art was influenced by various factors, including her Mexican heritage, personal experiences, physical pain resulting from a bus accident, her relationship with Diego Rivera, and her interest in indigenous Mexican culture.
How did Frida Kahlo’s personal experiences impact her art?
Frida Kahlo’s personal experiences, including her physical and emotional struggles, miscarriages, and turbulent relationship with Diego Rivera, deeply influenced her art. Her paintings often serve as a visual diary, reflecting her inner world.
What is the significance of Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits?
Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits are central to her artistic legacy. Through these self-portraits, she expressed her emotions, physical pain, and struggles with identity, challenging societal norms and expectations.
What role did Frida Kahlo play in Mexican art and culture?
Frida Kahlo is considered an icon of Mexican art and culture. She incorporated indigenous Mexican elements into her art, and her work is seen as a symbol of Mexican identity, resilience, and female empowerment.
Did Frida Kahlo’s art gain recognition during her lifetime?
Frida Kahlo’s art gained recognition during her lifetime, although her international acclaim grew significantly after her death. Today, her works are celebrated globally and exhibited in major museums worldwide.
What is the style of Frida Kahlo’s art?
Frida Kahlo’s art is characterized by its vibrant colors, detailed symbolism, and intricate compositions. She often combined elements of traditional Mexican folk art, realism, and surrealism in her paintings.
Related Questions
Who Was the Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)?
Frida Kahlo is one of Mexico’s premier artists. She suffered from polio and was in a bus accident when she was 18 years old which left her in a lot of pain. Kahlo married the famous Mexican mural artist Diego Rivera. She is well known for her self-portraits that depict her pain and suffering, but are also filled with passion and bright, bold vibrant colors. Her art is a personal statement of her life, paint, and culture.
To discover more about Frida Kahlo you can read our blog on Who Was the Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)? by clicking here.
Who is the Swedish Artist Hilma af Klint (1862-1944)?
Hilma af Klint was a female Swedish artist who was painting revolutionary modern artwork for her time. She was a trailblazing, creative figure who kept her art and paintings secret for many years. Despite her amazing works of art and legacy she left us, it has only been during the last 40 years that Hilma af Klint has started to gain international acclaim.
You can discover more about Hilma af Klint by reading our blog Who is the Swedish Artist Hilma af Klint (1862-1944)? by clicking here.
