Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón
Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderon, more famously known as Frida Kahlo, needs little to no introduction as she has one of Mexico’s most recognizable faces largely in part for being one of Mexico’s most famous artists known for her brilliantly colored self-portraits. Although she died at the young age of 47 years old, she left a big impact in the world by exploring deeply personal and emotional issues through her art, which helped usher a new wave of artists who used art to explore their own experiences.
Kahlo was born July 6th, 1997 in Coyoacán, a city near Mexico City. Kahlo lived in a now famous bright blue house called “La Casa Azul” with her parents and sisters. She was very close to her father, a talented professional photographer, and growing up she frequently visited and assisted him in his studio. Because of this, she acquired a sharp eye for detail. However, life was not easy for Kahlo, especially health wise. At the age of 6, she became ill with polio and, as a result, her leg was damaged permanently. Her many health hardships did not end there. At the age of 18, she was in a bus accident, from which she had to undergo more than 30 medical operations in her lifetime. It was a slow recovery for Kahlo, and during that time, she taught her self how to paint.
This and much more of her life story is well documented, so instead we share a few interesting facts about Kahlo:
1. Although Kahlo was born July 6, 1907, Kahlo often told people she was born in 1910 in order to be directly associated it with the Mexican Revolution which began that year.
2. Kahlo’s face, along with her husband (Diego Rivera), is on the Mexican 500 peso.
3. Although Kahlo was moderately successful during her lifetime, for most of her life, she was known as Diego Rivera’s wife; however, after death, she became famous. Now her name is known worldwide and Rivera is mainly known as Frida Kahlo’s husband.
4. Although Kahlo’s arts draw inspiration and celebrate her Mexican culture and heritage, Kahlo was not fully Mexican. Her dad was born in Germany with Jewish and Hungarian Roots. Her Mexican blood came from her mother who was indigenous Mexican with a Spanish background.
5. Kahlo was a political activist. She joined the Mexican Communist Party in 1928, and she had a desire to empower Mexican women and give them a stronger voice. Many of her paintings also conveyed her political messages and she often dressed in men’s clothing as a sign of protest against gender norms.
How many of these interesting facts did you know? One, two? You a fan of Frida Kahlo and her impact on art and feminism? Do you just like her art? Well, we have good news for you! Although few, we still have some Frida Kahlo inspired art in our shop. Grab it before it’s gone!
