Who is Frida Kahlo?

Frida Kahlo was a Mexican artist who painted portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Her portraits often confessed deep and personal stories that reflected an intensely emotional experience. Within her work were mixed between realism with fantasy, she was regarded as one of the few female surrealist painters of her time. Frida Kahlo often challenged political and social views by the way she dressed and advocated in contrast to Mexico's social norms.  

This particularly popular image that is often portrayed in commercial items (like the Vans shoes) showcases Two Frida's. She was often exploring her identity, here it is split into 2: Frida dressed in a white lace dress with European-style embroidery, and Frida in a traditional Tehuana dress, in reference to the dress that Diego loved. The hearts of both Fridas are exposed and connected to one another: the first has cut her artery with scissors, staining her white skirt, and the other holds a small portrait of Rivera. The clouds in the background imbue the scene with a sense of doom.

This portrait was painted shortly after Frida and her husband had divorced. She had discovered that her husband and her sister were involved in an affair that launched her into alcoholism and further exploration and recreation of her identity. In this self-portrait, Kahlo has cast off the feminine attributes with which she often depicted herself—such as traditional embroidered Tehuana dresses or flowers in her hair—and instead sports a loose-fitting man’s suit and short-clipped haircut.