Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird by FRIDA Kahlo - [Full analysis !!]
Frida Kahlo (1907 -1954) she was and is an iconic figure of the 20th century avant-garde art and, in general, of art history. Frida Kahlo used art as a tool to reflect and exorcise her pain, her fears, her loves and her losses. Thus, Frida, marked by the traffic accident that destroyed her body, turned to a search for her identity and her origins, vindicating herself as a woman, as a Mexican and mestizo artist. In this lesson from unPROFESOR.com we carry out a analysis of Self-portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird by Frida Kahlo.
Index
- What is the meaning of the Self-portrait with a necklace of thorns and a hummingbird?
- What does the necklace of thorns represent?
- What does the Hummingbird represent in Frida Kahlo's painting? And other symbols
- What movement does the work belong to?
What is the meaning of the Self-portrait with a necklace of thorns and a hummingbird?
Self-portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird was painted by
Frida Kahlo at year 1940. A painting in which Frida is portrayed from the front, looking at the viewer, and wearing a crown of thorns as a necklace.The painter appears dressed at the traditional mexican style, with its characteristic updo, but this time decorated with two silver butterflies. Frida, with the rest serious, has a lost gaze and seems to be focused on her inner world, on her pain and her thoughts.
Thus, in addition to butterflies, other animals accompany Frida. A dead hummingbird with outstretched wings hangs from the necklace. A figure that imitates the unshaven eyebrows of the paint and her mustache, also unshaven. The latter as lower wings.
In addition, on her left shoulder there is a black cat that stalks the hummingbird and, on the right, a monkey, a pet that she is given Diego Rivera, her husband.
What does the necklace of thorns represent?
Like other of her works, this work shows in a direct and stark way what is the intensity of pain that torments her. Frida unfolds before us her entire inner universe: a world in a fragile balance and in an apparent stillness and containment. Thus, while Frida's pose and gaze seem static, the necklace of thorns twists and digs into her chest.
The work has a great symbolic force and seems to be inspired by the figure of Christ with the crown of thorns, suffering from the physical pain caused by that crown, but with the serenity of accept her sacrifice and the physical and emotional pain caused by her injury and separation from her husband.
Image: Slideshare
What does the Hummingbird represent in Frida Kahlo's painting? And other symbols.
A failed relationship that lasted ten years full of infidelities and breakups. This self-portrait is a tool to overcome that divorce. A) Yes, the hummingbird represents the moment of falling in love already dead, just like the hope and joy of love.
The black cat represents death and bad luck flanking Frida. While the monkey, considered a symbol of evil and mascot that Diego Rivera gave him and that seems to represent the toxic relationship Between both. Thus, the monkey pulls the collar and makes Frida bleed. A sad and unfortunate situation from which they seem to want to remove two butterflies, being a sign of her desire to overcome that situation. Something that dragonflies also reflect.
One of the most striking symbols is the Frida Khalo's face. A face that seems immutable, but in which pride in its culture and origins, something that is evident in his dress and her hairstyle. In addition, the painting is displayed as if it were a religious icon. Frida shows her story of physical and emotional pain, but also her strength and resilience.
They are also appreciated numerous Christian symbols as the crown of Christ, representation of the pain and humiliation suffered by Jesus and that she herself has suffered during her relationship.
Nature accompanies Frida and it is an example of the love of painting for animals and plants typical of the Mexican landscape.
What movement does the work belong to?
Frida khalo she was considered surreal by André Breton, great theorist of surrealism. However, she never felt like a member of the movement claiming that she did not paint dreams, she it only reflected her life, her reality, being so the critics consider Frida Khalo closer to the magical realism.
This work of Self-portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird is part of the series of paintings of the last years of his life. A vital moment in which Frida dedicated herself to capturing her personal situation: her physical pain, her frustration for not being a mother, as well as the alcoholism that she suffered in those hard moments.
Khalo passed away in 1954, becoming over the years a authentic icon of feminism and a reference for her rebellious life, unclassifiable, nonconformist and one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
If you want to read more articles similar to Self-portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird - analysis, we recommend that you enter our category of History.
Bibliography
- Herrera, Hayden (1984). Frida: a biography of Frida Kahlo, Diana.
- Kettenmann, Andrea (1999). Frida Kahlo. Taschen.
- Kahlo, Isolda P. (2004). Intimate Frida. Dipon Editions and Blue Cat Editions.
- Martín Lozano, Luis (2007). Frida Kahlo, The Circle of Affections. Editors Crab.
- Martínez, Noemi (2009) Frida Khalo, art as expression: show us, Eneida
- VV.AA. (2010). Frida Kahlo. The photos of her. Editorial RM.
