The self-portrait by Elisabeth Vigee and the self-portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird
by Frida Kahlo are the cultural items I will compare. The picture by Frida Kahlo was created in
1940, while the one by Elisabeth Vigee was created in 1790. The picture by Elisabeth Vigee
was finished in Rome during the Baroque era. They had gotten too enthusiastic about their
dancing, writing, and paintings during this period for the arts. The years of the conflict were
when Frida Kahlo created her picture.
Femininity is the overarching topic in both artworks. When I compare the two paintings, I notice
that Vigee's is more whimsical and does not depict all the difficulties she had to face in life,
whereas Kahlo's painting appears to depict a lot more pain and suffering but was painted to
demonstrate her Mexican ancestry through the boldness of the unibrow on her forehead. But
because of her suffering, even if her paintings are severe, they nonetheless have a feminist feel.
Because of my own experience being branded as a woman who accepted a male's work for 23
years, femininity is a major deal for me. I can be kind and loving like a lady while yet being
courageous like a guy. My three girls have always looked up to me and thought they could do
anything thanks to the feminist pioneers. Both works of art will present a perspective on
feminism and the freedoms we have if we speak out for ourselves. Although it doesn't define
someone, being a woman should give you confidence. The alternative I'm considering is highly
personal to me because I just divorced after 35 years of marriage.
Some of the organizations that support women's rights would be impacted by the paintings' art
because it would make some women more aware of the suffering endured by somebody else.
A lot was going on in the historical context of Elisabeth Vigee's self-portrait at the time her
queen was forced out of power by revolutionaries who despised her for leading a carefree,
privileged life.
Her suffering from a failed marriage, which was a dark period in her life, inspired her to create a
self-portrait with a hummingbird and the words "My paintings carry with them the message of
grief." "I create self-portraits since I am so frequently alone, because I am the person I know
best," is one that I can completely connect to. I can truly sense her suffering and her feelings.
Both of these ladies are experiencing agony, yet Frida's anguish in her paintings was more
profound and felt closer to her heart than the pain I sense from her surroundings of what was
occurring with the revolutionaries.
These are personalities that allow spectators to see into one's soul. Additionally, they are
portrayed on canvas, which at the time was a pricey material to acquire.
Both of these images lead viewers to assume that women experience grief but can also follow
their goals and overcome it.
My target group will be ladies who are interested in learning about how certain women in the
past were able to express their feelings via their work. Today, it seems like most of us cover our
sorrow in order to give the impression that everything is well.
Explaining further about the many sufferings both of these women had and illustrating how art
can be used as therapy might help this be personalized to a particular demographic.
