Frida Kallo, who lived in the first half century of the 20th Century, changed the course of art history. She was a dreamer and put her dreams into her work. She experienced many ups, downs, including a bus accident that left her with serious injuries. She also had many relationships and was open about them. She used Christian symbolism to merge with her own dreams which she described as her reality.
After experiencing depression and miscarriages, she found comfort in animals. She loved to use animals in her art. Her paintings feature domesticated animals such as monkeys, hummingbirds dogs and cats. One Frida Kahlo selbstportraits depicts her and four spider monkeys. Kahlo became protective and tender symbols for the animals. Mexican mythology says monkeys are symbols for lust.
Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace, Hummingbird is Frida Kallo’s most famous self-portrait. Kahlo, according to art historians, wanted to show that her life had begun over again with this painting. Kahlo placed the hummingbird in her necklace to symbolize this idea. In Mexican culture, the Hummingbird represents hope and good luck. However, some viewers may notice Kahlo’s black cat, a symbol of evil luck and hopelessness, taking its place behind Kahlo on the right shoulder. The hummingbird pendant may be referring to Huitzilopochtli, according to different interpretations. It is an Aztec god war and could refer to the pain Kahlo experienced all her life.
Other symbols important to the painting included the butterflies and the thorn pendant. Butterflies are symbolic of resurrection, and they may be referring to her rebirth in the after-the-accident world. She may also wear a thorn necklace as a symbol for Jesus’ crown of Thorns, which he wore while being dragged into his crucifixion.
Kahlo used these symbols in a painting. The Little Deer shows her as a deer wearing a human face. This painting shows the artist as herself. This artwork contains a very important detail. The deer being shot by the arrows reminds me of Andrea Mantegna’s depiction in 1480 of Saint Sebastian. It could also refer to the crucifixion, and resurrection.
Kahlo’s strong character is evident in her fascinating paintings that are directly related to her life, but also in her famously colorful clothing.