Art Assignment-MUST READ DETAILS FIRST AND DUE DATE & TIME!!!!

Frida Khalo's Self Portrait

(Introduction)

Frida Kahlo's self-portrait is an artwork that has many layers. It displays mastery of composition, technique, and surrealist style to create an artwork that captivates the eye and imagination. In the next few paragraphs, I will be peeling back these layers to get to the heart of this painting. I intend to do so by describing it, analyzing its parts, interpreting its message, and giving my own opinion on the work.

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The first thing to explore is the painting's facts. Frida painted this piece in 1940, and entitled it "Self Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird'* She used oil pain! on aportrai@canvas thaVwas 24 * inches long;

What really grabs my attention about this painting is how much she packs into small space. My eyes are first arrested by her steady gaze peering from the center 01 the page and then move to gather all of the surrounding detail. Her rose red lips and tanned and multi toned face reflect an unsmiling demeanor. Her trademark uni• brow isn't raised in surprise or tensed in anger, Her lips are relaxed but slightly tensed and are crowned by a thin mustache. Her neck is choked by thorns digging into the flesh and adorned by a limp little hummingbird tied with a wires Over either of her white clad shoulders are a monkey and a panther, One is fiddling with the thorns around her neck and the other is peering oyer it in a predatory gaze,

in the background and surrounding her traditionally upbraided hair are jungle leaves in cool colors with accents ofyellow, overlapping a pale blue sky„ Finall% crowning her head are butterfly and dragonfly hybrids in pale colors, This arced trail of insects has been transformed by Frida's brush to be fused witbflowers and lace;

armony and unity. She did this by arranging the elements of her painting circular round the focus of her painting. The face serves the focal point both he center ofthe painting and because the eyes engage theviewer, She mphasized this focus by having the lips use a color that isn't used anywhere e pam re s e vie rseyesaway is leaves the Viewer free then to explore the rest Of the paintinSThe artiStPS lot, contrastj texture, pattern, and balance

(Analysis)

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paragraphs

crea o or pa s 0 0 owvsu tamond around the central face out ofthe darker; furor textures in her uni*br e figure -ofthe bird hanging from her neck, and the twifffigureypftbé monkey anther. This creates a dårker but broken frame for the face that the d ccentS Of her eyes and finely painted mustache, The second path is created by th eparation of warm and cool colors. The warm colors are locåted thro. the fthe painting from top to bottom, and are surrounded wNi the cool greens Of ngle leaves and blueof the sky. The green leaveyarcin back ground}and eflected in the op

uses contrast etWee Iues, erest and emphasize certain parts of her painting, $oxné exampiesårethe Whi irt next to the dark animals, the smoothness Ofthe leavgs and ber face airy textures of the animals and her hair, and the of impliedline m the $h irectly next to the actual -line bordering the thorns to "lake them Stand Out, attern is used extensively i

or IS a o near y pe y a we- htall Of the elements on the leftandrightequallyincolor,numbegsi in the equal distribution of the insect-flowers in the airy tia imal over each shoulder and the bird

(Interpretation) 2-3 paragraphs

Iscompetes e analysiso Fndasuseofelemensan pnnclp San uestion, ttWhat does it all mean?" Knowing Frida*$ background is a key t terpretations Frida wasinjuredearly in her lifein accident thatleft eri ronic pain. She was also in a tumultuous marriage with Diego Rivera that m bo i

know gey e sym o s thatarea first Vague in meanl c@m harply into focus, The setting ofthe painting reflects the jungles Of Mexico, a

'th their inhabitants and speaks to her love ofcountm This paired with graditional dress presents one of the recurring themes of Frida*s life and art, fierce pride in h renth

o e painting Is portraye inthé y anguageand sym o ed by Frida. The unsmiling face and emotionless eyes signal emotion su hd certainly not happiness. However, she is not slumped ih defeat buc he ulders are squared stoically. The thorns around her neck could symbolize hronic pain or her ended marriage and affair. The bird cåught in the thorns is iversal symbol for the feeling of have t ed

the same me, WI Ing against e protagonist Of S pal crown like flutter of the dragonflies and butterflies encircling her headö Thoug er body and emotional circumstances may be in dire Straits, the ereauve life of ind is not These could re

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(Judgement) 2-3 paragraphs

ove is paintmg or seve reasons, IS succ as ase mportra1tT astery of composition, and holds personal meaning for me. The disconcert' t i

e artist s ows rse in a momentof mewl esty an commun motion through images, Frida is seen and felt even if she is not heard rienced in reality. She reaches past the painting abd her lifetime to i ab her d

so was very earin ercommumca on Of hennessageto e viewer* esigning everything in her painting to keep the eye focused and interested nsures that anyone who thoughtfully contemplates her artwork will get

this pamting'svisua commumcat10h, was IYStwre h ling of being trapped, but having to persevere is a universal experience. It is flife, and has certainly been part of mine. Knowing her background as it rel e imagery also brings up a kinship with Frida I have known back pain from ildhood condition like her, and I have also fel

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(CIOS e)

Overall, this painting holds many surprises to the viewer. It doesn't seem pleasant at first, but the interest lies not in its mood, but its skill and message. It is a glimpse back in time at an artist who still captivates millions with her relatability, honesty, and powerful personality.