Frida Kahlo Essay

Question 1

Name one use of the Artists Materials and/ Or Technology

Answer 1

One of the materials that Frida Kahlo has used in this painting is oil paints.
In the painting we can see that kahlo has used oil paints to create smooth blending in places such as the pipes.
This allows her to create seamless transitions between tones as oil paints takes a long time to dry, allowing easy blending.

Question 2

Name a Second use of the Artists Materials and/ Or Technology

Answer 2

Kahlo has also used a fine brush to create this painting.
We can see this through the detailed roots of the flower as it would have required control to achieve this which can be done with a small brush.
This draws our attention to the flowers as the fine roots stand out against the soil.

Question 3

Name a third use of the Artists Materials and/ Or Technology

Answer 3

In the painting Kahlo has also used oil paints to achieve rich and bold colours.
This can be seen in places such as her dress which has allowed her to stand out from her surroundings making her seem very radiant.

Question 4

Name one of the Artists use of techniques

Answer 4

Frida kahlo has used a Mexican technique called Retablo to create this painting.
The use of oil paints on a metal plate can be noticed throughout the whole painting as it has allowed her to create an impressive finish on the piece because
the metal surface gives the oil paints a rich sheen.

Question 5

Name another of the Artists use of techniques

Answer 5

Another use of technique is the fine brush that Kahlo has used to create this piece.
We can see this through the small details on the lace glove.
This allows her to include a realistic side to the painting through adding extra details.

Question 6

Name a third point on the Artists use of techniques

Answer 6

In this painting Kahlo has choses to use oil paints.
This can be seen in the smooth building in the background as it would require a lot of blending
which can be achieved through using oil paints as they take a long time to dry.

Question 7

One of the Artists Working Methods

Answer 7

Frida kahlo has created this painting using oil paints.
This can be seen from the smooth blending in the petals of the flowers in the foreground.
Oil paints were used as they take a long time to dry which allows for smooth blending.

Question 8

A second point on the Artists Working Methods

Answer 8

Another method that Kahlo has used to create this piece is through a traditional technique called Retablo. Kahlo has used oil paints on a tin canvas which is often used for religious or devotional reasons. This way of working shows her devotion towards mexico.

Question 9

A third point on the Artists Working Methods

Answer 9

Frida Kahlo has painted this piece at a fairly small scale.
The piece is approximately 11x13.5 inches which is small for the level of detail she has achieved.
The small canvas along with a fine brush has allowed her to achieve very realistic features within the piece.

Question 10

One point about the Artists use of scale

Answer 10

Kahlo has made the scale of herself in this painting much bigger than everything else.
As she is in the centre of the painting appearing larger than her surroundings, this has
allowed her to make herself the focal point of her self portrait piece.

Question 11

Second point about the Artists Use of Scale

Answer 11

The buildings in the background of the painting have a smaller scale than in real life.
Kahlo has manipulated the buildings to allow them to fit in the painting.
This contributes to a varying range of scale making the piece appear uneasy and confusing.

Question 12

Third Point about the Artists USe of Scale

Answer 12

The perspectives of the piece are fairly realistic and accurate.
We can see that Kahlo has made the objects in the foreground larger and smaller as they approach the background.
This makes the piece seem more realistic as she has given it an accurate perspective.

Question 13

One of the Artists Choice of Subject Matter

Answer 13

The subject matter of the piece is Frida Kahlo herself.
She has painted herself in between Mexico and the US creating a split scene of the two places behind her
making her stand out from the dark background as she is wearing a light pink dress making her the focal point.

Question 14

Another of the Artists Choice of Subject Matter

Answer 14

Kahlo also includes Mexico as a main subject matter.
On her left she has created a very earthy Mexico with flowers roots and a blue sky,
showing that Mexico is where her roots begin and where her loyalties lie.

Question 15

A third point of the Artists Choice of Subject Matter

Answer 15

Another main subject matter of the painting is the flag and cigarette that Kahlo is holding.
The Mexican flag represents her loyalty to Mexico along with her political ties with the mexican Communist party while the cigarette represents rebellion
which creates a contrast within Kahlo herself.

Question 16

One of the Artists consideration of Mood and Atmosphee

Answer 16

In the painting there is a feeling of unhappiness from her marriage with Diego Rivera.
We can see that Kahlo stands between Mexico and the US with the sun and moon clashing in the background
which could symbolize her sorrows

Question 17

A second point of the Artists consideration of Mood and Atmosphee

Answer 17

There is also a sad atmosphere within the painting.
Kahlo included fertility dolls in the painting that represent her inability to have children due to a tragic accident that caused her to get impaled through the pelvis with a pole,
ultimately showing her pain.

Question 18

A third point of the Artists consideration of Mood and Atmosphee

Answer 18

We can also see that Kahlo has created a rebellious feeling within the painting.
Kahlo appears to be holding a cigarette in one hand which shows her rebellion as smoking is something that would be frowned upon by others in 1932 as she is a woman.

Question 19

One of the Artists consideration of Style

Answer 19

Frida Kahlo has painted this piece in a traditional Mexican style.
She uses oil paints on a tin canvas which is often used for religious or devotional reasons and is called retablo.
Painting in this style has allowed her to show her devotion towards Mexico.

Question 20

Another of the Artists Consideration of Style

Answer 20

Kahlo has also painted this in a self portrait style that is often recognisable.
She usually includes herself in her pieces with a monobrow, a blank expression, folklore dress and hair in an updo.
These features within the painting allow her to tell a story in her pieces.

Question 21

Third point on the Artists Consideration of Style

Answer 21

Kahlo’s art style is also quite surrealistic.
She includes lots of dreamlike characteristics like the faces on the sun and the moon making them seem surreal whilst also maintaining some realistic aspects like the flowers and buildings.
The use of real and surreal features make the painting appear dreamy.

Question 22

One point on the Visual Element COLOUR

Answer 22

In this painting, Kahlo has used natural and earthy brown tones.
These colours are used to create the Mexican side of the painting and can be seen in the rich and colourful flowers that appear in the foreground
creating a brighter and more appealing atmosphere on the Mexican side.

Question 23

A second point of the Visual Element COLOUR

Answer 23

Kahlo also used dark colours in the painting.
This can be seen on the US side as the tall buildings are painted in dark greys and browns which has
allowed her to create contrast against the earthy tones on the Mexican side making the US seem much darker and less pleasant.

Question 24

A third point on the Visual Element COLOUR

Answer 24

Kahlo has used light colours to create a focal point in the piece.
Frida Kahlo wears a light pink dress and stands in the centre of the piece.
This makes her very eye-catching as the light colour stands out against the rich dark colours in the background.

Question 25

An Impact of social, cultural and/ or influences

Answer 25

This piece has been influenced by Frida Kahlo’s problematic relationship with her husband Diego Rivera.
She has placed herself between Mexico, her native home and an industrialised US where her husband is.
This suggests she is torn between the two.

Question 26

A second Impact of social, cultural and/ or influences

Answer 26

Frida Kahlo’s inability to have children has also influenced this piece.
We know this as she has painted fertility dolls and a skull on the right side of the painting.
This depicts her inability to have children and the miscarriages she has had due to a tragic bus accident, ultimately showing her pain.

Question 27

A third Impact of social, cultural and/ or influences

Answer 27

Kahlo’s Political beliefs had also influenced this painting.
This can be seen through the Mexican flag that she holds,
which shows her loyalty to Mexico and can also possibly suggest that she was a member of the Mexican communist party.

Question 28

A forth Impact of social, cultural and/ or influences

Answer 28

Kahlo’s ill health as a child has influenced this piece.
She has covered up her legs with a full length dress because she caught polio at a young age resulting in one leg being shorter than the other
therefore using the dress to cover this up.