Mrs. Keyfitz's Art Blog

Art Inspiration, Discussion & Appreciation




Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace & Hummingbird by Frida Kahlo (1940) What we learned- Kahlo, whose father was German and whose mother was Spanish, was raised in Coyoacan, Mexico which influenced the subject matter and colors of her artwork. Kahlo’s work is often deemed somewhere between Surrealism (for it’s often dream-like qualities) and Folk Art (for the more primitive styles and techniques). A trolley accident as a teenager left Kahlo unable to walk (and with great pain when she did walk again) for the rest of her life, which lead her to paint self-portraits (as she could not get around much outside to capture more life around her).  During her initial healing (when she was on bed rest in a body cast), she painted self-portraits using a mirror mounted above her bed. In this particular self-portrait, Kahlo has used Christian references (the crown of thorns around her neck) as well as Aztec references (The hummingbird represents the chief Aztec god of sun and war, Huitzilopichtli.). Discussion Questions: Why do you think Kahlo included the monkey and black cat in her self-portrait? What can we learn about where Kahlo is from by the way she is dressed and the background of her self-portrait? Kahlo is not smiling in this painting (nor did she in her other self-portraits).  Knowing what we do about her life, why do you think this is so?

Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace & Hummingbird by Frida Kahlo (1940)

What we learned-

  • Kahlo, whose father was German and whose mother was Spanish, was raised in Coyoacan, Mexico which influenced the subject matter and colors of her artwork.
  • Kahlo’s work is often deemed somewhere between Surrealism (for it’s often dream-like qualities) and Folk Art (for the more primitive styles and techniques).
  • A trolley accident as a teenager left Kahlo unable to walk (and with great pain when she did walk again) for the rest of her life, which lead her to paint self-portraits (as she could not get around much outside to capture more life around her).  During her initial healing (when she was on bed rest in a body cast), she painted self-portraits using a mirror mounted above her bed.
  • In this particular self-portrait, Kahlo has used Christian references (the crown of thorns around her neck) as well as Aztec references (The hummingbird represents the chief Aztec god of sun and war, Huitzilopichtli.).

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think Kahlo included the monkey and black cat in her self-portrait?
  2. What can we learn about where Kahlo is from by the way she is dressed and the background of her self-portrait?
  3. Kahlo is not smiling in this painting (nor did she in her other self-portraits).  Knowing what we do about her life, why do you think this is so?

Notes