The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo

"Acid and tender, hard as steel and delicate and fine as a butterfly's wing, lovable as a beautiful smile, and profound and

cruel as the bitterness of life.”-Diego Rivera

Jennifer DiazLife In The Digital Age

Dig/IT Expo – May 31st 2012

Frida’s Childhood

• Frida Kahlo was born Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderon on July 6th, 1907 in Coyoacan, Mexico.

• Frida was one of four girls, born to German photographer Wilhelm and mother Matilde.

• Frida Kahlo was born and raised in “La Casa Azul (The Blue House)” which is now a museum in Mexico, displaying Frida Kahlo’s life.

The Turning Point in Frida’s Life

• In 1922, Frida enrolled at the National Preparatory School, where she met boyfriend Alejandro Gomez Arias.

• In 1925, on her way back to Coyoacan with Arias, the bus they were on crashed into a trolley.

• Frida was struck by an iron rod that went through her hip and out by her pelvis bone. Frida was only 18.

• Miraculously, after several weeks at the Red Cross in Mexico City, Frida was slowly recovering. Covered in a body cast for months, and bedridden, Frida began to paint more frequently.

Diego Rivera

• In 1928, Frida Kahlo reconnected with world renown Mexican muralist, Diego Rivera

• Frida and Diego were both members of the Mexican Communist party.

• 21 years her senior, the two began dating, and married a year later.

• Due to Diego’s ongoing commissions, the two moved around often, to San Francisco, New York, and Detroit. Frida began to display her artwork more frequently.

• Frida and Diego’s relationship was made up of various infidelities, one with Frida’s youngest sister Cristina.

Frida’s Deteriorating Health

• After Frida’s trolley accident at 18, her health was never the same.

• After her trolley accident, doctors told Frida she was no longer fertile.

• She had several miscarriages.• Frida had an estimate of 35 operations

in her lifetime. • In 1953, Frida’s leg was amputated

after being diagnosed with gangrene.

Frida’s Final Days

• In 1954, Frida was hospitalized once again. No one can confirm if it was a suicide attempt or not.

• Two months later Frida was hospitalized once again due to bronchial pneumonia.

• On July 2nd, 1954, Frida made her last public appearance with Diego Rivera at a rally to overthrow Jacobo Arbenz, the President of Guatemala.

• On July 13th, Frida was found death in The Blue House. It is unclear if her death was caused by pulmonary embolism or suicide.

• Frida’s last entry in her diary read “I hope the exit is joyful, and I hope never to return”.

Citation PageSlide 1: Introduction – Frida Kahlo on the cover of Vogue (France)

around 1938/1939. http://www.fridakahlofans.com/voguecover.htmlSlide 2: Frida’s Childhood– Frida’s painting “The Little Deer”://winona360.winona.edu/winona360/article/behind-works-frida-kahloSlide 3: The Turning Point in Frida’s Life – “The Bus” http://www.fridakahlofans.com/c0042.htmlSlide 4: Diego Rivera – “Frieda y Diego Rivera”http://www.fridakahlofans.com/c0070.htmlSlide 5: Frida’s Deteriorating Health – “Unos Cuantos Piquetitos (A Few Small Nips)”http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/01/04/1041566266329.htmlSlide 6: Frida’s Final Days – “The Broken Column”http://www.learner.org/courses/globalart/work/57/index.htmlSlide 7: Citation Page – “The Two Fridas”http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/frida-kahlo/the-two-fridas-1939