Artist Frida Kahlo Essays

Submitted By gloriaxox
Words: 920
Pages: 4
Open Document
Frida Kahlo Comes To Dinner

The fascinating character of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is brought out in the poem “Frida Kahlo Comes to Dinner” by Christina Strickland. In this poem a narrator describes Frida Kahlo’s behaviour and the atmosphere she creates when she comes to a dinner party. The character of Kahlo depicted in this poem brings out the themes of making the most of life; enjoying yourself; being an individual, and not caring for society’s moral code.

The use of Frida Kahlo’s fascinating character puts a particular perspective on these themes. In the poem we are reminded of the difficulties Frida Kahlo experienced in her life: she lived in “perpetual pain” following an accident involving a tram when she was a young woman. But this did not hinder her from living a full and productive life. She laughed off her pain; in fact, she used it as inspiration. In addition, her fascinating character brings out an interesting perspective on the need for individualism in order to be creative. Frida Kahlo shows that the artist has to be self-centred and ignore social conventions. The narrator contrasts herself with Frida Kahlo: the narrator feels dull, faded because she does not have the dynamic living-life-in-the-moment passions of Frida Kahlo. It is this that makes her an artist. Art demands this.

Frida Kahlo’s fascinating character is brought out in the opening lines by a variety of means used by the writer. It is fascinating to learn how self-centred and selfish Frida Kahlo was. This amazing artist was much loved and respected despite her anti-social behaviour: “Frida Kahlo arrives late, as usual, a little drunk, as usual”. The repetition of “as usual” shows that she is frequently late and drunk. It highlights her thoughtlessness. But she doesn’t care; nor do her hosts and the other guests seem to mind. Her carelessness is further brought in the following line: she flicks her cigarette “scattering fag ash like confetti”. The use of the simile “like confetti” creates an intriguing image. Cigarette ash carelessly dropped in someone’s house would normally be considered unpleasant. However, Frida Kahlo creates this ash into something beautiful. Confetti is brightly coloured – just like her; it also has connotations of fertility (it is used as a symbol of fertility at weddings). In Frida Kahlo’s case the confetti symbolises creating art. These lines convey the selfishness of the artist – how they must take liberties with people in order to be creative. This makes thinking about Frida Kahlo’s behaviour a fascinating experience.

Further on in the poem FK's fascinating character is brought out by her extraordinary appearance. She is described as being very lively: "there is more energy in her hair than in my entire body". This suggests that even something as inanimate as her hair (which is dead matter) in FK's case is a vital part of her. It almost had a personality of its own. The narrator contrasts herself negatively with FK. she feels she has none of FK's dynamism. This is all the more fascinating because FK was so lively despite having to endure "perpetual pain": the alliteration of the /p/ sound highlights her agony). This aspect of her character is developed by the use of a memorable metaphor "grim claws". This animal metaphor to describe her pain highlights how intense her pain was. And, moreover, how she tried to ignore it.

Frida Kahlo's fascinating character is developed further by the descriptions of her actions at this dinner party. Her hand gestures, for
Show More

Related Documents: Artist Frida Kahlo Essays

Frida Kahlo Research Paper

Coyoacán, Mexico Frida kahlo was born. Frida Kahlo started painting after she got in an accident on a bus when she was going home from school she was sent to the hospital after she got in the accident. The Artist Frida Kahlo Drew stuff on her cast while she was at the hospital. Frida also had a prosthetic leg, but she didn't draw on the leg she had. Frida also painted in the hospital bed, she had a machine that helped her to be able to draw while she was on the bed. Frida kahlo married Diego Rivera…

Words 355 - Pages 2

Frida Kahlo Research Paper

am going to tell you how the contributions of the female artists can be honored by talking about one female artist in particular and her name is Frida Kahlo. The contributions of the female artists can be honored by looking at what they have been through as an artist. Female artists had a tough time getting people and men to understand what they want to paint and draw, and what their masterpiece means to them personally. The female artists tend to bring out a lot more emotion and feeling into their…

Words 635 - Pages 3

What Is Frid Kahlos Artwork About Essay

2014 What is Frida Kahlo’s artwork about? Frida Kahlo, a bisexual Mexican artist, born on July 6th, 1907 in Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico. While growing up, Frida never thought of perusing a career in the artistic world. Many say she dreamed of being a physician in the medical field and had no passion for art. As a young age, Frida suffered many injuries, including her tragic accident as a teenager that changed her body and her life forever. These accidents and injuries scarred Frida physically,…

Words 685 - Pages 3

Art History Term Paper

Behind Frida’s Life Many of the artists are known for their isolated lifestyles. Frida Kahlo lived and painted from different point of views. Frida portrayed her personal experience and feelings through her paintings. Kahlo was born July 6, 1907 in Mexico to multi ethnic parents. At the age of eighteen, Kahlo was a victim of a bus accident that led to severe damage. The result from the accident was a fractured arm, collarbone, leg, ribs, pelvis and being skewered by a metal rod. With Frida’s…

Words 1517 - Pages 7

FRIDA KAHLO Word Essay

Carolina Salgado Mrs. K Stewart English 3, Period 6 30 March 2015 Frida Kahlo Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo was born on July 6, 1907, in Coyocoàn, Mexico. Frida Kahlo begin painting after she's got in a bus accident. Kahlo grew up in the Casa Azul. Her father, Guillermo Kahlo, was a German photographer who sailed where he met Frida's mother Matilde Calderon. Frida had three sisters, Matilde, Adriana, and Christina. At the age six, Frida was struck with pollo impact the use of her right leg. Guillermo…

Words 485 - Pages 2

The Disturbing Truth: Frida Kahlo's My Dress Hangs There Essays

The Disturbing Truth: Frida Kahlo’s My Dress Hangs There Art is not always pleasant, but neither is society. Art and society have a reflective relationship with one another. During social, religious, and political controversy, artists such as Frida Kahlo incorporated imagery into their portraits of society which are often disturbing to the viewer. The role of an artist often includes acting as a social critic, to show us aspects of our cultural landscape that are unpleasant. In this manner,…

Words 2236 - Pages 9

KAHLO ESSAY

Frida Kahlo: On Deconstructing Femininity and Confronting Maternal Taboos A Research Essay by Faustina Sari Setiawan Student ID: 250648508 VAH 2287F - Sexuality in Modern Visual Culture Prof. Marielle Aylen Frida Kahlo: On Deconstructing Femininity and Confronting Maternal Taboos “I paint flowers so they will not die1” - perfectly encapsulates the Frida Kahlo’s way of coping with the paradoxical hardships of both childbirth and child-loss, in addition to her struggles of being a female artist…

Words 1871 - Pages 8

Frida Kahlo's Background

Frida Kahlo By: Gerardo Barron Introduction: Frida Kahlo was a Mexican female artist who was born as Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderon on July 6, 1907, in Coyocoan, Mexico City, Mexico. Kahlo was raised in the home where she was born at which was later referred to as Casa Azul meaning “Blue House”. This was her family’s home. Her father was a German photographer who had relocated to Mexico where he met and married her mother. Frida was the third child out of her siblings which…

Words 1341 - Pages 6

Frida Kahlo: A Life Obsessed with death Essay

Frida Kahlo: A Life Obsessed with Death Frida Kahlo, the renowned impressionist artist, had a profound impact on modern art. Despite the various hindrances that she encountered during her lifetime, she achieved recognition in her profession as a woman and racial minority. Ever since her birth in the humble Coyoacán, Mexico, Kahlo faced obstacles that made being the ordinary girl that she wanted to be, difficult. At age six, she contracted polio. For months she was bedridden, leaning upon her…

Words 547 - Pages 3

The Scarlet Ibis Essay

Frida Kahlo's InfluenceFrida Kahlo's Influence Frida Kahlo's influence still lingers around the world. Even with Frida dead for almost two decades, she is still celebrated and thought of as an idol. Frida Kahlo was an artist in many different ways. Besides Frida's incredible talent to paint surrealist thoughts and emotions on canvas, she also was and artist in her mind and body. Frida's attire of traditional Mexican clothing, which consisted of long, colorful dresses and exotic jewelry, and her thick…

Words 1378 - Pages 6